Obituary
JOAN MARTZ REES, long time resident of Kansas City, died in her home Sunday, November 12. She was born in Seward, Nebraska, June 17, 1923, to Mildred Zwonechek and Fay Arthur Martz. In 1940 Joan graduated from high school in Syracuse, Nebraska where she served as governor of Girls’ State; an experience that inspired a life-long interest in writing and politics. Joan went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska in 1945, in Journalism, with a minor in political science. She was elected to Mortar Board and Theta Sigma Phi, the journalism honorary society, and was also a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.
After graduation Joan moved to New York, where she careered at Life magazine. She went on to help found, with Peter Martin, Photography Workshop magazine. Joan married Jack M. Rees on June 19, 1949, and moved to Kansas City in 1951, to start the company Jack Rees Interiors. She did public relations work for the Kansas City Philharmonic and was head of Sketch Box at the Kansas City Art Institute. Joan wrote a column, “Aunt Blabby’s Notebook,” for Blvd. Magazine and, later, authored A Rich Stew of
People. Joan always emphasized the importance of laughter. Her most recent manuscript, “Humor Is Healing”, is an anthology of short whimsical stories and hundreds of humorous quotations.
Joan is survived by her husband, Jack Rees; her sons and their wives, John
Martz Rees and Hayley Walker Rees of Kansas City, and Michael Stroud Rees and Mary Ann Strandell of New York; and her sisters, Mrs. Pauline Buck of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Mrs. Mary (Martz) and Mr. John Mulligan of Cleveland, Ohio.
The burial service is to take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (64th & Wornall) at 1p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16. There is a reception following in the Parish Undercroft.
