Edward James Lefeber, Jr., MD, FACP Colonel, United States Army (Retired)

Edward James Lefeber Jr., MD, aged 85, died peacefully in his sleep on May 27, 2026 in Oak Park, Illinois.

Born on January 12, 1941, in Galveston, Texas, Ed was the eldest of six children born to internist Edward J. Lefeber Sr. and nurse Ellie Hancock Weisiger Lefeber. He was the beloved husband of the late Faith Linn Gabrielsen Lefeber, who died in Oak Park, Illinois on August 2, 2024. He married her on November 18, 1967 at Augustana Swedish Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. Their marriage was one of the great blessings of his life, and he often remarked that he was a lucky man to have been loved by her.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Faith, his parents, his sisters, Ann Elizabeth Lefeber Botik and Nancy Ellen Lefeber Hughes, MD, his brother Robert Randolph Lefeber; and his nephew Brian Edward Botik all of Galveston, Texas, and his sister-in-law Grace Carrie Gabrielsen of Graettinger, Iowa.

Growing up in Galveston, Ed earned the rank of Eagle Scout and received the God and Country Award. He graduated from Ball High School, where he served as Cadet Colonel in the Army ROTC program. He attended the University of the South, earning a Bachelor of Arts with Honors and becoming a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Pursuing his lifelong goal of becoming a physician, he graduated with Honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 1966. He was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and joined Phi Chi Medical Fraternity.

Dr. Lefeber completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at D.C. General Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and William Beaumont Army Medical Center. He began his clinical career as a Major in the United States Army.

Colonel Lefeber proudly served in the United States Army Reserve from 1967 to 2001. During the Vietnam War, he served during the 1968 Tet Offensive as a General Surgeon with the 108th Artillery Group and as Preventive Medicine Officer in Dong Ha, I Corps. He was recalled to active duty during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, serving as Commanding Officer of the 403rd Combat Support Hospital (CSH), Phoenix, Arizona. In recognition of his distinguished service, he received two Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Service in Combat and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. The 403rd CSH provided outstanding care to the wounded in the challenging conditions of the Saudi desert.

Throughout a distinguished medical career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Lefeber was board certified in Internal and Geriatric Medicine and held medical licenses in Arizona and Texas. Following in the footsteps of their father, both Ed and his sister Nancy pursued careers in Internal Medicine. In 1994, he was advanced to Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), an honor he deeply cherished.

From 1973 to 1995, Dr. Lefeber served on the faculty of the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix where he became Chief of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at University of Arizona College of Medicine. He later joined Texas A&M College of Medicine in Temple, Texas as a Hospitalist from 1995 to 1999.

In 1999, he relocated to San Antonio and joined the University of Texas Health Science Center, where he practiced primary care medicine until 2012. He particularly enjoyed teaching residents and medical students and took great pride in helping train future physicians. From 2011 to 2014, he also served as a certified Disability Evaluator for the Texas Workers’ Compensation Program.

Dr. Lefeber was active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor’s Society, the American Medical Association, and the Alamo Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. In 2018, he received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

A devoted man of faith, Ed was an active member of St. Francis Episcopal Church of San Antonio, Texas. He participated in the Last Chance Bible Study and the Education for Ministry Program sponsored by the University of the South. He also volunteered as an Oasis Reading Mentor at Thornton Elementary School and faithfully served as the primary caregiver for both his wife, Faith, and his brother Robert.

Ed’s personal mission statement was simple and profound, “To be worthy to serve the suffering.” He sought to live according to the words of Micah 6:8, “To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

He is survived by his daughter, Karin Elizabeth Lefeber Johnsey, and his son-in-law Ronald Grant Johnsey Jr. and his cherished grandson Elijah Edward Johnsey all of Oak Park, Illinois. He is also survived by his brothers John Courtney Lefeber of Baytown, Texas, Donald Louis Lefeber (Rose) of League City, Texas; brothers-in-law Michael B. Hughes of Galveston and Philip W. Botik of Lubbock, Texas and other beloved nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, colleagues, former students, and patients.

Ed enjoyed his journey. His family and friends will remember his positivity, steady devotion to those in need and love of learning.

Interment with Military Honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on Friday October 9, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to send memorial contributions to:

The Lefeber Lectureship in Gerontology at UTMB Galveston. Gifts may be made online at https://www.utmb.edu/giving or mailed to the UTMB Office of Development, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0148.

Or

St. Francis Episcopal Church 4242 Bluemel Rd. San Antonio, TX 78240 https://www.sfcsa.org

Expressions of condolence may be shared online with the family.