Barbara Jane Mckay

In the words of Pastor Kay Hooper, Jim and Barb McKay are together again in peace and in the loving arms of God. Jim departing this life on December 8, 2014 and Barb on February 24, 2015. A memorial service celebrating their lives will be held at a later date in Spencer at Grace United Methodist Church. Jim spent his last months at the Alta Ridge Alzheimer Community near Salt Lake City, while Barb for the past two years was under the wonderful care of many at St. Luke Lutheran Nursing Home in Spencer. They were married in 1965, combining two families (Jim's daughter Joan and son Ralph, and Barb's son Norman) and moving all to Spencer from Spirit Lake and Estherville. James Soper McKay was born September 25,1930 in Estherville, the youngest of three children to Edith Soper and Ralph James McKay. Jim's great grandmother Esther Soper (the town's namesake) married Robert Ridley, and they were among Estherville's first settlers. Jim graduated from Estherville High School in 1948, and at a very young age became the owner of the family's lumberyard business when his father passed suddenly. He was truly a master carpenter, and spent a lifetime in northwest Iowa's home construction industry as a homebuilder and products supplier. Later he formed and ran the Spencer facility of Fort Dodge-based Lumberman's Millwork Supply for many years before selling the business in the early 1980s. Jim was a member of the Emmett County chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and was especially proud to be a 50-year Mason and member of Spencer's Evening Shade Lodge. Barbara Jane Wegand was born October 24,1920, the second of four children to Edna Mae Lockwood and Clyde Hardman Wegand in Butler County near Greene, Iowa. She graduated from Greene High School in 1938, earned her teaching certificate from the Iowa Teacher's College (now UNI), and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Drake University. Barb taught elementary school in Denver, Colorado and Iowa (including Spencer) until her retirement from full-time teaching in the late 1960s. Barb completed summer coursework at Northwestern University in Evanston that led to music instruction assignments during Barb's teaching career. Music was one of Barb's true gifts and delights. Her home's living room had a piano and an organ, and she filled many other rooms with music - including her piano playing in her dining area at St. Luke. Barb's mother and two sisters also were teachers, and education was her life's work and passion. She was a P.E.O. sister for over 70 years, first joining the organization in 1943 through her mother's chapter in Greene. Barb was also an avid bridge player and long-time member of several bridge clubs - a game she dearly loved playing with Jim, neighbors and friends. Jim was preceded in his death by his parents, his older sister Ruth Shine, and his first granddaughter Molly McKay. Jim's older sister Grace Soeth lives in Spirit Lake. Barb was preceded in her death by her parents, her older sister Dee Schrage, and her younger brother Max Wegand. Barb's younger sister Mary Lou Hadley lives in Charles City. Surviving family members to Jim and Barb include: three children - Joan in Statesville NC, Ralph (Carole) in Murray UT, and Norman (Leah) in Atlanta GA; six grandchildren - Ann, Chris, Louie, Jimmy, Sarah Beth and Caroline; and four great grandchildren - William, Maria, Jakob and Molly. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to these Spencer organizations: Grace United Methodist Church, Chapter AT of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and Evening Shade Lodge No. 312.

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