Allan McKie
Allan McKie, 90, formerly of Chisholm and Crane Lake, who was born June 16, 1924 in Bessemer, MI, to Cecelia (Lampi) and William McKie returned to his Maker on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. He leaves behind his 5 children, Carol McKie (Jerry) Manning, Ann McKie, Stuart (Mary) McKie, Lauren (Lawrence) Aho and James McKie. In the past 2 years he resided at Virginia Care Center where he regularly proclaimed, "The staff here is so good to me."
The 2nd of 6 children, Allan grew up during the Depression. Like so many from that era, he learned to garden, hunt and fish for food. He and his brothers assisted their dad with remodeling work to help keep the family going. Allan graduated high school in Bessemer, MI, in 1942. He fought in the infantry during WWII. He survived the Battle of the Bulge and carried the painful memories of war for most of his life. Allan attended Gogebic Junior College and Michigan Tech. He met and fell in love with a young nursing student from Minnesota, Barbara Frances Beatty. On July 3, 1948 the two were married in Duluth, MN. Barb and Al settled in Buhl, MN, and quickly created their family. Allan worked in the mines initially and eventually became a mining equipment salesman. He always regretted not having graduated from college because he had the mind of an engineer. He loved to imagine, draw and create. While in Buhl, he built his first home and started the lifelong process of building, moving and remodeling the family cabin at Crane Lake, MN. Outbuildings including a shop, garage, fish house and pole barn were added over time. Allan was a hard worker who could also play hard. He loved to fish, hunt, camp and canoe particularly the chain of lakes that now makes up the Voyageurs National Park. Al was a good story teller and enjoyed people .
When Allan retired, he and Barbara wintered in Port Aransas and Aransas Pass, TX. Together, they explored the marshes and sloughs of the Texas coast delighting especially in all of the wintering birds. Allan fished the gulf and inland waterway "as if it were his job". Barb was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-eighties so those trips were eventually curtailed. Allan remained her loyal companion until her death in 2011.
During his final days we are thankful that his 5 children were able to be present or to speak with Allan prior to his passing. He was visited by his sister Virginia LaFave and her daughter Jamie Stiffarm. We are especially grateful for the timely visit of Aunt Inger Holmsen and cousin Bob McKie who brought their love and wisdom at this special time. In addition to his 5 children, Allan is survived by one sister, Virginia LaFave, 3 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers William (the late Sylvia), Tom (Cherie) McKie, sisters Janice McKie and Marcia (the late Fred) Droege. No funeral is planned at this time, a memorial gathering will be held in July.