- Date Of Birth: March 26, 1940
- Date Of Death: June 12, 2022
- State: Colorado
Anthony (Andy or Opa) Joseph McKee, age 82, of Florissant Colorado passed peacefully in his home on 12 June 2022.
Anthony was born on March 26, 1940, in Bryn Muar, Pennsylvania to Grace and Joseph McKee. Andy attended St. Bonaventure University, working his way through as greens keeper, gas station attendant, and wedding photographer (among other odd jobs) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics. All through his schooling he struggled with reading and spelling, but it wasn’t until years later while working on his master’s that he was diagnosed with dyslexia. He was commissioned into the Army Engineer Corps in 1961 and was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado (as a platoon leader.)
After Colorado, Andy was assigned to Heilbronn, Germany where he met and married his sweetheart Annemarie Winter in 1964. They had their first child, Robert (Bob) in 1965. From Germany, the Army sent Andy to Vietnam in 1966 where he was assigned as an advisor to the Special Forces. During this tour Andy thankfully survived two helicopter crashes and received the Army Purple Heart. After Vietnam, Andy and Annemarie were assigned to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. From Virginia, Andy went to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he was the assistant professor of military science, and their second child Christine (Tina) was born. From Louisiana the Army sent Andy to Thailand as the operations officer for an engineer battalion in support of the war in Vietnam.
After Thailand Andy worked as the facility engineer at Fort Richie, Maryland and the Raven Rock Mountain Complex also known as the underground Pentagon. Their third child, Andreas was born while in Maryland. In 1973 the family moved to Darmstadt, Germany where Andy was the facility engineer. Following Darmstadt Andy attended, then instructed at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. While in Kansas, the McKee’s explored Colorado where Andy bought land and began building their home in Teller County. The McKees then moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Andy took command of the Third Battalion, Fourth Training Brigade.
From there Andy lead McKees back to Germany. In Mannheim, Andy was the Facility Engineer for Installations Support Activities Europe (ISAE) with overall responsibility for the maintenance of military installations throughout Europe. In 1986 they moved back state side to Woodland Park, Colorado. Andy, an Army Colonel now worked for the Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base maintaining facilities responsible for sites integrated in the missile defense system known as Star Wars. Andy retired from the Army in 1990 in Colorado Springs.
Starting in 1990 Andy served as the fire chief for the Four Mile Fire Department for nine years. Andy, along with Lance Crummet, Cricket Buckley, Stew Miller and many others built the main Four Mile Fire Department station.
Andy went back to school after completing his term as fire chief and was ordained as a Deacon in 2002. Andy’s deacon ministry focused on the Care of Sick and Dying.
Andy’s passions included serving his country, leading soldiers, loving his family, serving God, and taking care of all people. Andy was not afraid of taking on anything.
He is survived by his wife, Annemarie, his daughter Christine Huisjen(Matt), his two sons Robert (Laura) and Andreas (Jerrie). He has six grandsons Anthony, Joseph, Jesse, Toby, Michael, and Dustin; three granddaughters Madeline, Bridget, and Madison; and one great-granddaughter Avery, and his sister Cathy Muncey (Harry and family).
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Saint Mary’s Cathedral, 22 West Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs
Procession (following Mass)
6:00 pm Reception
Four Mile Fire Department (8437 County Rd 11, Florissant Colorado, 80816)
