Roderick McKee

Roderick McKee was born on November 23,1961, and was the first of three sons born to the union of the late Samuel McKee and Annie Ruth (Nichols) McKee in Chicago, Illinois.

He attended elementary school at Academy St James and transferred to Mount Vernon Elementary School where he graduated. He went on to graduate from Mendel Catholic High School and earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). While he was in high school, he became the sole flautist for a band called Sapphire, whose music was based on the tunes of Earth, Wind, and Fire, and they were known in the surrounding high school community for consistently winning the weekly battle of the bands competition. 

In 1978, he met and fell in love with Daune Watson while they participated in a college retreat for high school junior students at Northwestern University. They began dating and were married on April 26,1985. Their union was blessed with two children: Matthew David and Samantha Nasia.

After graduating from college, he began working for Northwestern University as a data entry tech and developed a passion for computer technology. A couple years later, he started his lifetime career as a software designer at AIC and transitioned to Panasonic. He then decided to started his own consulting business, Matantha, Inc. and worked as a consultant with Goss International for 15 years. From there, he went on to become an employee of Crane NXT (formerly Cummins Allison). Over the course of his career, he assisted in developing software for the restaurant, industrial printing, and banking industries.

Roderick devoted his life to God when he was in college. In 1988, at his former church he was very active where he served as a seminar leader, deacon, and choir director. He later recommitted his life to Christ and joined the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren who endearingly called him 'Pop-Pop'. A few of his joys in life were watching football, especially "his" Chicago Bears, listening to Prince and all sorts of music, playing cards (Casino, Gin Rummy, and Spades) and dominoes (Chickenfoot), grilling, sharing meals with family, and he looked forward to his annual Memorial Day weekend trip to Indy 500 with the boys (his close family and friends).

Roderick McKee of Country Club Hills, Illinois transitioned from this earthly life to eternal life on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Illinois, at the age of 62. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel McKee and Annie Ruth McKee; father-in-law: Henry Watson; and nephew: Devon Pryor

He leaves to cherish his loving memories: his wife, Daune Therese McKee; son: Matthew David (Nikki) McKee; daughter: Samantha Nasia (Antone) Wright; granddaughter: Nasia T. Wright; grandsons: Jayden J. Kidd and Jasper C. McKee; brothers: Gregory McKee and Everett (Vania Renee) McKee; mother-in-law: Carol Watson; brother-in-law: Henry "Hank" (Beverly) Watson, Jr.; and a host of relatives including aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.