Jacob E. Lea

Jacob Eli Lea, 90, formerly of Sioux City died Monday, March 24, 2008, at a Beaumont, Texas, hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2008 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites.

Jack was born Sept. 24, 1917, in Center Township, Iowa, the son of Albert and Helen (Brackey) Lea. He was a longtime Sioux City resident. Shortly after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served our country in World War II from October 1941 to July 1945.

He married Ellouise Boyd on Sept. 24, 1945, in Sioux City. She passed away on Aug. 18, 1991. After his tour of duty with the military, he was employed with Sioux Tools until retiring in 1979. He relocated to Beaumont, Texas, in 1995.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Sandy and Richard Skelton of Beaumont, Texas; two sons, Jack Lea of Littleton, Colo., and Donald Lea and his wife, Ethel of San Antonio, Texas; five sisters, Kathryn Searls, Thelma Linde, Ella Marrowe, Gladys Miller and Avis Asleson; a brother, Marlin Lea; grandchildren, Trudi Shudak, Terri Bowman, Trisha Hedman, Timori Pierce, Karen Carnes, Jeff Lea, Jackie Lea, Cassie Lea and Chris Lea; and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Erving Lea; and a sister, Martha Lea.

Pallbearers will be Jake Bowman, Jeff Lea, Chris Lea, Jeff Shudak, Dean Carnes, Corey Hofmeister and Mike Hofmeister.