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McKee, Howard
Howard McKee, 91, of Montezuma, passed away Monday, May 3, 2010, at Mercy Iowa City. A Celebration of Life will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at First Presbyterian Church in Montezuma, with the Rev. George Salnave officiating. Visitation will begin after noon Friday at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma, with the family present from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Interment will be held in Jackson Township Cemetery, Montezuma. Holland-Coble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Howard Gorsuch McKee, son of William and Ethel (Gorsuch) McKee, was born Dec. 9, 1918, in rural Montezuma. He was a 1937 graduate of Montezuma High School. Howard attended Iowa State University for one year before he started farming with his father. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in October 1941 where he was a mechanic and a mechanic instructor at Keesler Field, Miss. He was stationed overseas in the China-Burma-India Theater. After Howard was honorably discharged in December 1945, he returned home and continued farming. On Aug. 18, 1946, Howard was united in marriage to Harriet Farstrup, who he met through his sister while teaching together at Granger, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Elizabeth, Craig, Helen and Rodney. Howard enjoyed airplanes, servicing cars and any kind of mechanic work. He and Harriet enjoyed square dancing and spending time with their grandchildren. Howard was a member of the Montezuma First Presbyterian Church, Blakley-Stevens American Legion Post 196 and the Farm Bureau.
His memory is honored by his children, Elizabeth (Richard) Gnida of Iowa City, Craig (Joan) McKee of Arlington, Va., Helen McKee-Alexander and Bruce Alexander of Iowa City and Rodney (Roxann) McKee of Montezuma; one sister, Dorothy Mitas of Omaha, Neb.; nine grandchildren, Andrew (Michelle) Gnida, Tanya Gnida, Mary McKee, Martha McKee, Kyle Alexander, Devyn Alexander, Eryn Alexander, Tyler McKee and Katurah McKee; and three great-grandchildren, Lou, Zeb and Eleanor Gnida.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Harriet; one brother, Raymond McKee; one sister, Grace McCready; and an infant brother, William.
Memorials may be directed to the Montezuma First Presbyterian Church or Montezuma Fire Department.
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