John Lees

John ?Ironman?Lees, 77, of Bethlehem, died Sunday, January 28, 2007 at St.Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem. Born May 2, 1929 in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Mary and Chris Lees. He was the loving husband of Dorothy Kotash Lees of Bethlehem. They would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on May 20th. John was a softball player for 33 years and he also coached. He worked as a custodian for the Bethlehem School District and a short order cook for the Bethlehem Steel Club.

He once pitched 28 innings and won with a score of 1-0. At the age of 54, he led the National Sokols to the championship. He played fast pitch softball for numerous teams in the Lehigh Valley and was an assistant coach for Liberty High School. He was in a dart league and bowled for the Sokols and Panthers and the Hungarian Catholic Club. John also loved to dance.

He served in the U.S. Navy.

John will be lovingly remembered by: his wife, Dorothy Lees of Bethlehem; sons, James Lees & wife Judy of Allentown; Tom Lees & wife Mindy of Palmer Twp; Joseph Lees & fiance Carrie of Bethlehem; brother, George Lees of Whitehall; sister, Margaret Miller of Kutztown; grandchildren, John-Paul & Brian Lees. He was preceded in death by his sister, Ginny Valianatos .

Services: A Funeral Service will be held, Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. 245 East Broad St. Bethlehem, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church 429 Hayes St. Bethlehem.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday from

9:30 -10:30 a.m. both in the funeral home. Burial will be at Holy Saviour Cemetery

Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association

P.O. Box 1132

Fairfax, VA 22038-1132