James A. McKay

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Master Sgt. (ret.) James A. McKay of the U.S. Marine Corps, 84, of the Town of Belle Plaine, passed away on Friday evening, July 15, 2022 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah surrounded by his family.

James Allen McKay was born Feb. 19, 1938, in Milwaukee, son to the late Murdock and Emma (Beaune) McKay. He graduated from Clintonville High School in 1957 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. where he completed two tours of duty during Vietnam. He was united in marriage to Myrna Bittorf on November 10, 1960 in Memphis, Tennessee. James was trained as a technician and worked on aircraft for 20 years, retiring in 1977. He then worked for Noritage Inc., Embarrass for another 17 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 63 of Clintonville.

The garage/workshop for James was the place he felt most in his element; he could fix just about anything and loved working with his hands. He designed and built multiple additions and improvements to their home basically on his own. Over the years, James and Myrna liked to travel, spending time at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Indiana, and other parts of the U.S.

James is survived by his wife of 61 years, Myrna; sons, Jim (Kathleen) McKay Jr., Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Cory (Julie) McKay, Glidden; grandchildren, Connie (Nate) Frey, Gunnery Sgt. Joshua (Jessica) McKay, and Nathan Hewitt; and great-grandchildren, Daniel, Julia, Aiden, and Kelsey; brother, John McKay.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Floyd, Murdock, and Lawrence McKay; and sisters, Grace Simonson, Barbara Busbin and Margaret Surges.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory in Clintonville with the Rev. Ralph Martens officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Post 63, VFW Post 664, and the Ladies Auxiliary, all of Clintonville Inurnment, will take place at Friendship Cemetery in the Town of Belle Plaine. Visitation will take place on Friday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to be directed to the American Legion Post 63 of Clintonville.

An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

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