Jack Lee West

Jackie Lee West, 79 years of age from Wapello-Oakville, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026 at the Wapello Specialty Care.  There will be a celebration of life for Jack on July 11, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Izaak Walton at Lake Odessa.  Bring your guitars and beverages, it’s “gonna” be a party.  The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello is caring for Jack’s family and arrangements.

Jack was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, March 30, 1946, to Russell Gilmore and Dorothy Marguerite (McCuen) West.  Jack was married to Mary McElhinney (King) on February 14, 1969 until 1989. Jack and Mary had two children, James Lee West (Tiffany) of Wapello, Iowa and Elizabeth Ann Calhoun (David) of Marion, Iowa.  Jack remarried Darla Reed November 3, 1992, he and Darla had a daughter, Katherine Margaret Pickering (Justin) of Olds, Iowa.  Jack spent his life playing music with multiple bands in SE Iowa from his teenage years to 2017.  He also enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, spending time with family and friends and singing to the ladies within the hospitals and nursing home.  Jack held many careers in his lifetime including owning his own service station in Wapello, being a barber, teaching guitar lessons, Thatcher Plastics in Burlington, Tillman Motors, being an aide at a mental institute, construction work, auto mechanic, working for the City of New London, being a crossing guard for New London Schools and caretaker for Geode State Park.

Jack will be deeply missed by all of his children; grandchildren, Makenna (Robert) Drayfahl of New London, Connecticut, Macuen, Odessa and Macannon West of Wapello, Iowa, Zeke and Lydia Calhoun of Marion, Iowa, Max (Kayden) Pickering of Hedrick, Iowa, Miami, Kendra, BrynLee, Eden, Waylon, & Job Pickering of Olds, Iowa plus one great-grandson, Kason Pickering of Hedrick Iowa.  Jack is also survived by sisters, Sandra Fugate, Cheri, Sharron, and Linda of Missouri, Sandra Picken of Iowa; several nieces and nephews, Shane Davis; Dennis, Greg, and Dale Williams, Shad and Seth Singleton, Sara Maddux, Damie West, Rickey West, Holly Whalen, Tracy McDowel, Courtney and Chris Frick, Gina, Lana, Gayland, & Breck West of Texas, Kimberly Thompson, Tim Coleman, Susie Nelson, Cheri Melendez, Ted Coleman, Jesse Harwood, and Angie Harwood and their spouses and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Gilmore and Dorothy Marguerite (McCuen) West; step-father, Raymond Davis Sr. and step-mother, Bernice West; nephew, Scott Frick and family members, Linda Harwood, Buddy and Dick West, Earl, Raymond, Charlie, Ronnie, and Kelly Davis, and Shelly Singleton.

            The family would like to thank Wapello Specialty Care and Compassus Hospice for the love and care given to Jack and his family.

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