William F. McKee III

FITCHBURG- William F. McKee III, age 74, loving husband, father and grandfather, lifelong resident of Fitchburg, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010, after a brief five month fight with bone cancer. He was President of McKee Associates Inc. and Midwest Homes Inc. Bill started his businesses in 1963. He served as a director for the National Association of Home Builders and served three terms on the Board of Directors for the Madison Area Builders Association. Bill was President of the Madison Area Builders Association in 1978, and received the Builder of the Year Award in 1982. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Builders Association Hall of Fame in 2005. Bill served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin from 1994-1998. The Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin General Contractor of the Year award was awarded to Bill for the years 2000, 2002 and 2004. He served on the Madison Employers Council representing the Associated General Contractors of WI; the Economic Development Committee for the City of Fitchburg; as a member of the National Council on Senior Housing, as well as the committee for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, Southern Wisconsin Division. Bill was instrumental in developing several neighborhoods and commercial projects including, Tower Hill Park, Chapel Valley and Marketplace in Fitchburg; Gateway Estates and Scenic Ridge in Verona; The Bergamont in Oregon; and Oak Grove Estates in Wisconsin Dells. He was honored to serve the maximum allowable terms on the Board of Directors for the First Business Bank in Madison. Bill served in the US Air Force Reserves for twenty-eight years, from 1954-1982. He was a member of the Madison Area Builders Association, Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin, Madison Elks, Four Lakes Yacht Club, Stoughton Country Club, and past member of the Madison Curling Club. Organizations favored by Bill included the Ronald McDonald House of Madison and its foundation, the Henry Vilas Zoo, UW Band and Habitat for Humanity. He always had a smile on his face, loved traveling to different parts of the world, street rod cross country power tours, going to drag races in California and Florida, boating on (crossing) Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River with family and friends and tinkering with his old cars. He treated everyday as an adventure and enjoyed all them with a sense of humor and remembering that life is uncertain and to eat dessert first- especially ice cream. Bill is survived by his wife, Janice; son, Brian (Linda) McKee; daughter, Melissa (Brian) Elmer; two granddaughters, Sydney and Samantha McKee; brother, Robert (Janet) McKee; sister, Elizabeth Rotar of Fitchburg; sister, Barbara (Richard) Rocha of Oakland, Cali.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Florence McKee; and son, Kevin McKee. Funeral services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, with the Rev. Laura Sutherland. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, with an Elks Service at 7 p.m., and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. We would like to thank Dr. Tom McFarland, Dr. Craig Dopf, the staff at Meriter Hospital 8th floor and everyone at HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg for their wonderful care of Bill. Memorials may be made in Bills name to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison or HospiceCare Inc, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg. Memorials: Memorials may be made in Bills name to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison or HospiceCare Inc, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, with an Elks Service at 7 p.m., and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. Service: Funeral services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, with the Rev. Laura Sutherland.