Bert James McKee, April 6, 1931 – December 6, 2024

Bert James McKee passed away peacefully on December 6, 2024, from
late stages of dementia, with his wife Bobbie holding his hand. Bert was
born on April 6, 1931, in Los Angeles California to Bertis McKee and Zella
Topping.

Bert attended schools in the Los Angeles area and worked at many types
of jobs. He became very skilled in radio repair and worked in that field
before being drafted into the Army in 1952.

During his two years of active service in the Korean war, Bert achieved the
rank of E4 specialist and was part of the Korean Military Advisory Group
known as KMAG. Because of his knowledge of radios, Bert also was in the
Signal Corps training soldiers and providing logistic support. Bert left the
Army in 1954 and was honorably discharged in 1960 after years as a
reservist.

After Bert was discharged from the Army he returned to Los Angeles where
he began working for Steer Engineering designing parts for the Apollo
Space Program. Bert was fortunate to attend a launch from Cape Kennedy,
now known as Cape Canaveral. Because of Bert’s military service, he was
able to visit the war memorials in Washington D.C. in September of 2017
as part of the Honor Flight Nevada.

After 27 years with Steer Engineering, Bert moved his family to
Gardnerville Nevada. He began working for Bently Nevada as their all
around fix it guy. Bert could fix and build anything. He spent 25 years with
Bently Nevada and over that time he volunteered for the East Fork Fire
Department and built a family cabin at Virginia Lakes in the eastern Sierra.
In the winter of 1982, an avalanche destroyed the cabin, but not to be
deterred, Bert salvaged what he could and rebuilt the cabin outside the
avalanche’s path. The McKee family has spent many wonderful times
enjoying their cabin at Virginia Lakes. Bert served as president of the
Virginia Lakes Water Company for 25 years and was instrumental in
building the company’s water system.

In the mid 1980’s Bert built his dream home, with help from his family, in the
community of Holbrook Junction Nevada. He was again active as a
volunteer in the local fire department. Bert was also an active member of
the Korean Veterans Association 305 in Carson City and a life member of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Bert was predeceased by his first wife Marian Johnson of 55 years. He is
survived by his wife Bobbie McKee and a combined family of Steve McKee,
Robin Williams (Day), Dana Thomas, Mark McKee (Cheryl), David Berger
(Dawn), Doug Berger (Kani), Dan Berger (Dennell), and Darrin Berger
(Natalie), 26 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Bert will be held on July 6, 2025, at 1:00 in the
afternoon at the McKee Cabin, Virginia Lakes, California.

The family expresses deep gratitude for the loving care provided by Sierra
Basin Memory Care and Eden Hospice.