Wesley Mckay

Wesley J. McKay, 95, recently of Britt, MN and formerly from Kelsey Minnesota, lost his battle to cancer on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at St. Raphael’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Eveleth.  He was born in Duluth Minnesota on March 15, 1922 to Walter and Jennie McKay.  He moved to Kelsey when he was 16 years old.  He enlisted in the army during World War II. He spent 26 months in the Aleutian Islands prior to his service in Europe.  He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He returned to Kelsey after the war. He married his wife Loretta Hotz in 1949.  Together they raised seven children and he resided in Kelsey from the end of WWII until he was 90 and then moved to Ely with his daughter and son-in-law Betty and Gene Kroll.  In December of 2016, he moved to Britt and was cared for by his daughter and son-in-law Mary and Kirk Anderson and East Range Hospice, until 16 days prior to his death when he was moved to St. Raphael’s.

Wesley was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He enjoyed gardening, hunting, playing cards and horseshoes.  He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wesley was a school bus driver for the Cotton School and a dairy farmer in his early career, until he became a heavy equipment operator for St. Louis County where he retired after 30 years of employment. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Meadowlands and the Kral Matha Peterson VFW Post 3044 for 70 years.

Wesley is survived by seven children:  Wesley W (Irene) McKay of Mahtowa; Betty (Gene) Kroll of Ely; Dan (Katie) McKay of Meadowlands; Virginia McKay of Biwabik; Mary (Kirk) Anderson of Britt; Debra McKay of Eveleth; and John(Kelly) McKay of Proctor, 14 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.

Wesley was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta, his parents Walter and Jennie McKay, his brothers, Robert and James McKay, his sister Virginia Mosher and his granddaughter, Jennie (McKay) Kinkaid.

Wesley’s sense of humor, tough spirit and love for family and friends will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank East Range Hospice, especially his hospice nurse, Brian Hopkins and St. Raphael’s Health and Rehabilitation Center for their excellent care.

Visitation will be Thursday evening, July 20, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 PM in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Meadowlands with a time of memory sharing at 7 PM followed by recitation of the rosary at 7:30 PM. Visitation will continue on Friday, July 21, 2017 in the church from 10 AM until the 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial.  Fr. Pio Atonio will officiate. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery at 2 PM, Kelsey, MN.  Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home in Hibbing. Memorials to the Veterans or Cancer Research are preferred.