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 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.