Lela Cordellia Reylek

Lela C. Reylek (Lee) of Mesa, AZ, (and formerly of Sun City West, AZ and South St. Paul, MN) died peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2026-- at the age of 94 years old, at Inspira Gateway Assisted Living/Memory Care facility in Mesa, AZ.

She is survived by sons: Dan (Elena) Reylek, Kent (Melina) Reylek, and Joe (Tina) Reylek; and daughters: Kathy (Merle) Tingelstad, and Jayne (Tom) Strand. Also, survived by: 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Also, Lela is survived by her Whitmer siblings of: Gail, Quentin and Crystal.

And survived as well by: Many nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

Proceeded in death by Lela's parents: Guy Whitmer and Alice (Palm) Whitmer of Wisconsin; her husband Kenneth Reylek; and her siblings: Orville, Delores, Dewey, Lee, and Mae.

Lela will be missed by many life-long friends, three Hospice-care Interns, several attentive staff members from Hospice of the Valley, and the caring staff at Inspira Gateway.

Funeral Arrangements by Mariposa Gardens, 400 S. Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85206. Memorial service and a lunch provided. Details at: www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries

Internment Burial, with a private ceremony in late August. Lee will be buried next to her husband, Kenneth, at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at 23029 North Care Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ. (Kenneth was a Marine Corps Veteran.)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 (Or www.hov.org/donate ).