Jim Stewart McKinney, loving husband, father and grandpa, and longtime resident, teacher, and coach of Wauneta, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday evening, June 29, 2021, at the Chase County Hospital of Imperial, Nebraska at the age of 72 years of age. Jim was born on August 23, 1948 to Paul Virginia McKinney in Sidney, Nebraska. Jim grew up and attended school in Dix, Nebraska and graduated from Dix High School in 1966. He went on to further his education and graduated from Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska in 1970.
On May 31, 1969, Jim married Patsy Smith in Hastings, Nebraska. The couple first lived at College Heights in Kearney as Jim finished college, and in Dix during the summers. They moved to Wauneta, Nebraska in 1970 for teaching jobs and lived in small little houses. In 1977, they built their home out in the country and established their residence ever since.
For employment from around 1966 to 1960, Jim worked for the Interstate Bridge Construction Company and he did oil field work in the panhandle of Nebraska. After they moved to Wauneta for their teaching jobs, he also had Frontier Birds, raising pheasants, chukars and quail for 25 years. Jim taught woodworking and carving classes. He was a coach for football, basketball, track and golf. Jim helped locals harvest during the summer and was a local building inspector. He also taught hunters' safety and drivers' education.
During the span of his life, Jim was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Turkey Federation, many carving clubs and stock club. His hobbies were plenty: hunting, fishing, carving, bird watching, gardening, family game nights and card, traveling, playing guitar, raising exotic birds, ducks and geese, people visiting and people watching, golf and trap league.
Jim's LOVE was to spend time and watch his children and especially his grandchildren in all the sporting events, or any activities. Fishing - "Quarter for the first fish" - and hunting - seeing the "Big One" - brought out to Grandpa first or how many beards the turkey has. Sitting on the back porch with Pat watching all the birds come into the bird feeders or the kittens playing with his homemade fishing pole cat toy. Singing with family and playing guitars with friends and neighbors. Family game night was a favorite. Seeing his sisters and having breakfast with them at the local café. FAMILY was everything to him.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Dan; and his brother-in-law, Roy.
Survivors Include his wife, Patsy, of rural Wauneta, NE; daughter, Amy Rozelle of Wauneta, NE; son, Aaron McKinney and wife, Monica, of Wauneta, NE; son-in-law, Jonathan Rozelle of Kimbell, Nebraska; 6 grandchildren: Kelsey Rozelle, Alexus (Rozelle) Barnes and husband Edward, Austen Rozell, Branxton, MacKenzie & Gaving McKinney; sisters Linda Rasmussen and husband, Jack, of Dix, Nebraska, Ruth Wurdeman and Eric Griffith of Dix, Nebraska, and Sharon McKinney and Fiancé Dan Dunnihoo of Dix, Nebraska; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A private family inurnment with a celebration of life to follow will be held Saturday, July 17, 2021, 11:00 A.M. (MST) at the Wauneta Community Building, Wauneta, NE.
A memorial has been suggested to the McKinney Family for a memorial fund to be awarded to a graduating senior of Wauneta Palisade High School furthering their education.
Online condolences maybe left at LiewerFuneralHome.com
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta, Nebraska has been entrusted with arrangements.