Frank William (Bill) McKee, a founding and named partner of Rhoades McKee, died at the age of 89 on August 15, 2020.

A native of Ohio, McKee came to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a judicial clerkship in 1956 after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School.  As a young lawyer, McKee decided to establish his own practice with Roger Boer.  In 1963, McKee and Boer merged their practice with another aspiring practice run by Dale Rhoades and Bill Garlington.  The law firm of Rhoades, Garlington, McKee, and Boer was founded to serve the West Michigan community.  Today, Rhoades McKee’s 49 attorneys offer over 25 legal practice specialties in Grand Rapids, Hastings, and Holland, Michigan.

“With a commitment to serve his clients, Bill approached each legal issue meticulously to achieve the best outcome,” stated Dale Rhoades, another founding member of the firm. “We worked day and night and that dedication was respected throughout Western Michigan and the state,” he continued.

An integral member of the Rhoades McKee litigation team for nearly 30 years, McKee had a diverse civil litigation practice involving property claims, personal injury, product liability, auto and professional malpractice (legal, medical and dental). In 1992, he retired from the daily activities of the firm and remained as an Of Counsel member.

“We are saddened at the loss of one of the founders of our Firm. We are proud to bear his name and carry on the tradition and culture that he helped forge from the Firm’s earliest days: to zealously represent our clients in a manner that is widely respected by our colleagues in the bench and bar,” stated Tony Pearson, President of the Rhoades McKee Executive Committee.

Colleagues fondly remember him for not only his skillful litigation practice but also his mentorship of young attorneys and his leadership of the insurance defense team.  The Rhoades McKee Insurance Defense team has earned the respect of their peers throughout the state.  Even in retirement, he was still interested in the continued growth of the firm that still bears his name.

McKee was an avid athlete and loved skiing, hiking, biking, and rowing.  He was a world traveler and adventurer.  A few noteworthy adventures included hiking across Nepal in the foothills of the Himalayas, hiking in Mont Blanc in the Alps, completing several safaris in Africa, and a 10-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon.

At this time, formal services have not been planned.  A complete obituary is available on MLive.

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