Dave Mckee

Dave Mckee (59) passed away on October 10th 2014 surrounded by his friends and family after a three year battle with cancer. He is survived by; both parents Jim and Marietta, children, Heather Mckee (Jason), James (Britta), Christopher (Elisabeth) and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother Douglas V. Mckee.

He attended Topeka West High School graduating in 1974. Then marrying his high school sweet heart, Debra Apel. They were wed for 28 years.

He spent most of his time tinkering with antique guns, fishing at the cabin, hunting for pheasant and quail or traveling to Canada to catch the big Muskie and Pike of Maynard Lake Lodge with his father Jim, cousins and close friends.He began his career as a 3rd generation Santa Fe railroader in 1977.

Heather was born in 1978 and so the family life began.

By 1980 he had completed his Machinist Apprenticeship for Santa Fe railway. In 1982 James was born.

He continued the fishing, hunting and family life, in 1986 Christopher was born. He was the lead man and relief foreman in the Santa Fe wheel shop until the transition from car shop to locomotive shop landed him on the second shift planners desk. He remained there until he was forced by his illness to leave in 2011. He served on the environmental, safety and quality teams most of his career. He was also the Topeka correspondent for the Railway News.

On the home front he was building his knowledge of antique firearms, military items and a military railway collection.

He began fly fishing and was instantly hooked. Self taught with many years of practice he became a very proficient fly-fisherman.

In the later years he was a well know and looked to authority on WW2 German firearms and uniforms. His group of friend included others that had the same passions as he did whether it be military items, fly-fishing, taking a puddle jumper to Maynard Lodge, old cars, WW2 collectables or just having a good laugh.

One thing was for certain, once you met him you were his friend. He collected friends from the time he was a small boy to when he was a well seasoned man. The love of his friends and family that were with him to the end was a reflection of the love he had for him over all of the great years he shared with all of them.

He called his favorite place to fly-fish, Rockbridge Trout Ranch, his heaven on earth and couldn't wait to go one last time.