Joseph Earl McKee, 85 of Lincoln, passed away July 22, 2017. He was born July 16, 1932, in Franklin, NE to Melville and Helen (Martin) McKee. He grew up in Franklin and attended Wesleyan University, where he met his wife of 65 years Dorothy (Converse). Joe served in the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in the Marshall Islands. Upon discharge in 1955 he started his 58 year home building career with McKee and Williams later known as McKee Construction. Joe is survived by, Dorothy (wife 65 years), son Mike (wife Carol); daughter Lisa McKee Tirko all of Lincoln; grandchildren Brian (wife Brittany), Lancaster, PA. Adam (wife Kendra) & Cory McKee, Lincoln, NE, Natasha (husband Vince) Agresto, State College, PA, Jessica (husband Josh) Duerr (South Korea), Brothers Eslie (Mac) McKee, Robert McKee both of California, Roland McKee of Colorado, Sisters Phyllis Frerichs and Irma Neptune of Lincoln, Beverly Harper of Omaha and Lois Kinnan of Gibbon. Joe was preceded in by his parents and son, Gregory.
Funeral Services will be August 2, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, 2723 North 50th Street, at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, 6700 South 14th Street at 2:00 pm, family and friends will meet at Gate #2 prior to services. Condolences may be left at trumpmemorials.com. Trump Funeral Services, 1600 West “O” Street, Lincoln are handling the arrangements. Memorials may be sent to 1625 Skyline Drive, Lincoln, NE 68506 in care of Homebuilders Association Charity Donations, Santa Cops and Scholarships
Joe’s construction business began as a framer “working for the other guy”. Very quickly he began his career as a home builder starting by buying, refurbishing and flipping residential housing and other buildings. Notably Joe framed out the very first McDonald’s fast food franchise in Lincoln. His son, Mike, has estimated that his Dad built over 2,500 homes during his active career. Joe was Lincoln’s Homebuilders Association President in 1973, then State President, and became a life-time national director. On January 9, 2014 the mayor proclaimed a Joe McKee Day honoring Joe’s lifetime achievements in Unified Construction Council. Joe was also very active in civic outreach beginning with his daughter Lisa’s swim teams and his son’s baseball teams. He continued this involvement corporately sponsoring various youth baseball and swim teams. Regrettably Greg’s life was cut short. Had he lived, there is no doubt that he would have had a career in sports broadcasting.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Dorothy and your family at this time of your loss..I am thankful I had the opportunity to have taken care of Joe. He will greatly be missed. God Bless…….Theda Higgins LPN at HRC.
Joe was a great man, with a heart of gold.
Sympathy to Dorothy and Mike and the entire family.
Nadine and Frank Condello
We are sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. I always enjoyed working with him in the late 1970’s and appreciated him a lot. I am sure that the family wil greatly miss him.
We are sorry to miss the memorial service as we are out of the country.
I think I knew Mr. McKee most of my time as I worked as an Electrical Inspector for the past thirty years for the City of Lincoln. Even before that his son Mike and I worked together on a few electrical jobs. Joe was known to be a bit “picky”, another word for “Good Quality Control”. We could use a few more like him in the industry. Rest in Peace, and Thank You For Your Service! “Slow Salute” from and old medic and an old Electrical Inspector.
I worked with Jerry Schleich at Austin Realty when Joe and his crew were building houses in Austin’s subdivisions. Even typed and mimeographed the specs. For a time I owned and lived in one of Joe’s houses on High Street. I always thought Joe was a great guy and I’m sorry to hear of his passing. My sympathy to the family!
Joe was not only the builder of our home when we moved to Lincoln almost 25 years ago, but he and Dorothy were long-time neighbors who lived across the street from us for many years, until they moved. Joe and Dorothy both were such friendly, kind, and helpful neighbors. We still love the home Joe built us as much as the day we moved in, although it is just the 2 of us rattling around in it, as the 4 kids have moved on. Our greatest sympathy to Dorothy and family – you’ve lost a good one with Joe. Miss you both. Jack and Laurie Gregg