Harold Dean McKee

Harold Dean McKee, 91, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 12, 2024, after a brief but forcefully-fought illness.

Born on May 11, 1932, in Verdon, Nebraska, to Lawrence and Irene McKee, Harold was a lifelong hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He spent countless hours pursuing large and small game across the Midwest and Western United States, and he taught these passions to his children and grandchildren. He could often be found at Weatherby Lake, teaching his grandchildren to fish. In his youth, he trapped and sold furs to help his family make ends meet. In his later years, he trapped nuisance beaver and muskrat at the lake. Harold loved to ski and spent many winter trips enjoying the slopes with his family. His love for his numerous hunting dogs was only exceeded by his love for his family. He would tell all who would listen that his children and grandchildren were the source of his greatest joy.

Harold attended three different one-room schoolhouses by the time he was in 8^th grade and often pointed out to his grandchildren that he walked to school. Though he never directly said “uphill both ways, in the snow,” it was certainly implied. He graduated from Verdon High School in 1950 before attending Lincoln (Nebraska) School of Commerce.

Harold enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 and was stationed in California, Texas, Missouri, and Japan, where he served as a jet mechanic overhauling F-86’s that saw combat in Korea. He served until 1956 when he was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his discharge, he received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University. After graduation, he worked for Boeing before moving to Kansas City in 1963 to work for TWA. His work allowed him to take the family on many vacations to different parts of the world. One of his favorite destinations was Maui, Hawaii.

Harold married Ruby Bowers on August 22, 1954, in Filley, Nebraska. When asked recently what his goals were for the remainder of his life, he said only one thing: to live until August of 2024 so he could say he’d been married to Ruby for 70 years. Though he didn’t quite achieve this goal, no one who knew him doubted his love for his wife.

Harold was predeceased by his parents, his sister Mary (McKee) Ramer, and his brother Ralph McKee, and leaves behind son Mark and wife Debra, of Weatherby Lake, MO, daughter Melanie and husband Andy Webb, of Edwardsville, IL, grandchildren Steven McKee and wife Anna, Kevin McKee and wife Dr. Kristen Delsigne, Dr. Alicia Webb and husband Nicholas Von Geusau, Kyle Webb and partner Corinne Bertoia, and great-grandchildren Dean McKee, Ruby McKee and Maren McKee.

A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery on March 9, 2024, with visitation at 10:00am followed by the funeral service at 11:00am, and burial with military honors.