John William McKeeFeb. 3, 1925 - March 17, 2008John was born on his parents' homestead in Williams, Minn., the son of Jacob William and Alice Caroline (Thoreson) McKee. He worked cutting pulp each year as a teenager until January, when he joined his classmates in school, made up his work and graduated from high school in 1943. John & Lucille met in 1939 and attended high school together as sweethearts. John entered the service in 1944. While home on furlough, the two were married on Dec. 10, 1944. John served overseas as a combat infantry man with General Patton's Third Army. John came home from Europe, and before being deployed to Japan, they came west to see his parents. On the way back to Minnesota on the Empire Builder, word came through the conductor that the Japanese had surrendered.John and Lucille moved to Albany in 1947, where John went to work for R. Veal & Sons Furniture Factory. He loved woodworking. He retired from Willamette Industries in 1987. In retirement, they delivered for Meals on Wheels for 16 years, and loved working on church activities. He joined the Albany First Assembly of God in 1987. He loved fishing, hunting and the wonderful fellowship of these activities. He was a great cook, and he and Lucille loved to invite people over to eat. He was an avid reader until macular degeneration made reading very difficult.John is survived by his wife Lucille; daughters Trudy and husband Del Edwards, and Nancy and husband Ron Kruse, both of Albany; grandsons David, Justin and Nathan; granddaughter Teresa; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and sister Bernice Baldwin of Warroad, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Russell McKee.Viewing will be from 1-7 p.m. Thursday at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Albany First Assembly. Entombment will follow at Willamette Memorial Park. Memorial Conrtibutions can be made to First Assembly Missions or Meals on Wheels. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).