Marie Emeline Mckee

Marie E. McKee, 94, of Waukon, IA, formerly of Postville, IA, died Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 26th, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Pastor Lynn Noel officiating. Burial will be at Postville Cemetery. Friends may call from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon and one hour before services Monday at the church.

Marie Emeline Klees was born September 29, 1923, at Waukon, IA, the daughter of Frank and Etta (Cowell) Klees. She grew up on the family farm near Rossville with her siblings Ray, Paul, and Clara. Marie was baptized at Volney Methodist Church in rural Monona, IA, and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, IA. She attended local grade school and high school in the Waukon area. Upon graduation, Marie taught school in a multi-grade country school in the area. When WWII started, Marie worked in Rockford, IL, for Woodward Government. After a short time working in Seattle, WA, Marie returned to Waukon, met Everett McKee, whose family had moved in down the road from the Klees family farm. Everett swept her off her feet and they were married on November 19 1947, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lansing.

Thirteen months later, their first son James E. was born followed by John F. and Donald D. With the family complete and the family rental farm a success, it was time to buy land and push ahead. Everett and Marie purchased their family farm in rural Castalia, IA, and settled there for 14 years of raising their sons and growing the family farm. In 1974, they retired to an acreage north of Postville, IA, called Durno Park. In 2007, Marie and Everett moved into a condo in Waukon. Marie lost her beloved husband Everett in 2011.

She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Marie enjoyed reading, baking and cooking for family and friends, playing cards with their four couple card club, and crocheting mass quantities of eggs, table cloths, pot holders, and several other items.

Survivors include her three sons: Jim (Deloras) of Brookhaven, MS, John (Sue) of Des Moines, IA, and Don of Manchester, IA; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three very special nieces: Joan Ewing of Lansing, Mary Kruse-Emerson of Harpers Ferry, IA, and Phyllis Dymod of Phoenix, AZ; and two sisters-in-law: Leone McKee of Waukon and Florence McKee of Lansing. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Everett; her brothers Ray and Paul; a sister Clara Kelly; and a daughter-in-law Terri McKee.

Casketbearers are Alan and Brad Kamaus, Kevin and Ryan McKee, Chad Opfer, Frank Kelly, Tom Cerino, and Bill Stanton.