Rees Alan Falkner August 2, 1947 - September 16, 2024

It is with great sadness in our hearts that we announce the passing of Rees Alan Falkner. He was born August 2, 1947, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Henry Hales Falkner and Elma Hanson Falkner. He was the youngest of four children. At the age of three years old the family moved to Boise, Idaho, where Rees spent his childhood.
He graduated from Borah High School. While in high school he had the honor of playing the bugle for many military funerals. They would pick him up in the hearse, from high school, drive him to the funeral, and even paid him $50.
Rees played his trumpet in his own band, and in fact Rees and Julia’s first date was at a Christmas dance where Rees played the trumpet in his band while Julia sat on the sidelines in her beautiful dress.
Rees married Julia Reed on August 18, 1967, in the first church built in Boise. Then on August 17, 1968, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls temple.
Rees was on a music scholarship while at Boise State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
His first job out of college was at the Idaho First National Bank in Soda Springs, Idaho. He then went to work for the Boy Scouts of America as a Scout Executive in many councils, and National Director of the Boy Scout Division where he was on the advisory council for the 11th addition of the Boy Scout handbook.
With Rees’ position in the BSA they had the opportunity to live in many states from Maine to Hawaii. After 32 years with the BSA he retired from the Aloha Council which included the Hawaiian Islands and the South Pacific. They were able to make many friends and learn about many different cultures. The position Rees was in with the Boy Scouts of America took them on trips to Europe to help with World Jamborees and other scouting activities. All these adventures taught them to love people of all faiths and cultures.
Rees spent time making memories with his children, Tamra Sue, Heidi Marie, Ryan Scott, and Angela Lynne with yearly trips to hike Mount Timpanogos, yearly trips snowmobiling to Yellowstone at Christmas and summers spent at Philmont Scout camp. He loved being with his family whether it was camping, hiking, or just spoiling them.
Rees was a man with many passions. He enjoyed model trains, hiking, and good country music. Some of his favorite musicians are Kenny Rogers, Alabama and The Oak Ridge Boys. He shared his love of their music with all the kids and grandchildren. Even the grandkids know how to sing along to “Elvira” and other songs while playing games.
Rees loved to serve others. He loved serving the Lord in many capacities, and basically just enjoyed people of all faiths and cultures. He was a very kind person and enjoyed getting to know new people and would help them in any way. He made friends everywhere he went.
When Rees retired, he and Julia built their dream home in Timberlakes, Heber City, Utah. They spent time there with their kids and grandchildren playing games, hiking, riding snowmobiles and four wheelers, gathering firewood and many other activities. Gathering here for the holidays was one of the favorite memories for family members.
Rees had some health conditions that affected him for many years. He found out that he was in kidney failure and in 2014, Jan Fausett, who he always called “his angel” secretly got tested to see if she was a match and was able to give him one of her kidneys in May of that year.
Even with all his health conditions, he never complained.
Rees is proceeded in death by his daughter, Stephanie Falkner, his great-granddaughter Haven Celeste Casutt, his parents Henry and Elma Falkner, and his sister and brother-in-law Marilyn Falkner Anderson and Dr. Gerald Anderson.
He leaves behind his loving wife Julia, his children Tamra (Dean) Casutt, Heidi (Steve) Gurney, Ryan Falkner, and Angela (Joshua) New. He also leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Boy Scouts of America at https://donations.scouting.org