Joseph “Joe” Neal McKee

Monday, August 28, 2017 1:58 pm

Joseph “Joe” Neal McKee, 42, of Lansing, passed away Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. A celebration of life for Joe is Friday, Sept. 1, at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing, from 4 p.m. until close. Any cards of condolences can be sent to Brian and Krista McKee, 19 3rd Ave NE, Waukon, IA 52172.

He was born Nov. 14, 1974, at the Gundersen hospital in La Crosse, Wis. Joe was welcomed into our world by his parents, Sandra Jane (Klees) and James Louis McKee of Lansing. Joe graduated from Lansing Kee High School in May 1993. After graduation Joe went to work for Jack Heffernan milking cows and helping on the farm along with Brennan Construction and had the opportunity to work on the Black Hawk Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River in Lansing. Joe also worked road construction for Fred Carlson Company – Knife River Company and most recently was working for Walleser Excavating and Concrete. He enjoyed the work, but was a farmer at heart. Joe was able to farm the Knopf home farm and was living his dream with the help of his great-uncle, Cyril Knopf.
Growing up and still today, Joe’s family was a huge part of his life – from his aunts, uncles and cousins on both the McKee and Klees sides, who influenced the man he became. He also loved to spend time with his brothers, nephews and nieces, whom he relentlessly picked on. Most recently he enjoyed spending time with the love of his life, Nikki, and her son, Dillon – with whom he quickly became two peas in a pod.

Joe enjoyed the outdoors – fishing, hunting and trapping – most often with his lifelong neighbors and brothers. Card-playing was also a huge part his life that led to many shenanigans.

Joe was the type of man who would share anything he had and was called to heaven too early. Joe will forever be in our hearts! In his own words “Cya Bye.”

Joe was preceded in death by his mom, Sandra (Klees) McKee; his infant sister, Claire; his grandparents, Paul and Coral Klees and Richard and Evelyn McKee; his godparents, Dixie and Albert Keenan; his uncles, Samuel Klees and Tom McKee; great-uncle, Cyril Knopf and cousin, Richard (Richie) McKee.

Joe is survived by his girlfriend, Nikki and her son Dillon, of Brooklyn; his father, Jim (Donna) McKee of Necedah, Wis.; his brothers, Brian (Krista) McKee of Waukon and Peter (Jackie) McKee, Matthew (Brittany) McKee, both of Lansing; his nephews: Wesley McKee, Jacob McKee, Damon Weber and Braden Hilleshiem; his nieces, Alyssa Hilleshiem and Mallory McKee; along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.