Father Of Wrestling Champion Dies Of Cancer
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A Minnesota father, whose fight with cancer got national attention this year, has died.
Steve McKee of Hanover fought through his pain to see his son win the state wrestling tournament in March. The story spread when Mitchell McKee's opponent hugged Steve after that match and told him to stay strong.
If you've ever lost someone you love, you may know that immediate urge for things to be normal. For Junior Mitchell McKee and his Freshman brother Patrick, wrestling is their normal.
"It's kind of a break from everything that's going on lately, and you don't have to think about it," Mitchell McKee said.
And if anyone could use a break, it's them.
The state champion wrestler and his standout brother got pulled from Saturday's meet.
We "got Mitchell and Patrick together and said, 'Your mom wants you to come home, be with them right now, cause it might be getting close to the end for your dad,'" said head wrestling coach Dan Lefebvre.
Hours later, their dad breathed his last breath.
For last two years of his life, Steve McKee split his time between bed and bleachers.
"He was in a motorized cart, but he wanted to stay there and watch Patrick and Mitchell wrestle every single match," Lefebvre said.
He taught his children how to win.
"He respected a lot of people and showed a lot of respect, and that's what he really taught us," Mitchell and Patrick said.
Like their father, the brothers are powering through the pain.
"We have the funeral in the morning, then we're going to go wrestle at 5 or 7," Mitchell said.
"He'd be proud of us for working hard, still, despite what happened," Patrick said.
The boys are also standout students, both in choir.
To donate to the fund the boys' mom set up, contact First American bank in St. Michael:
Or mail a check:
First American Bank
12725 43rd Street NE Street
St. Michael, MN
763.497.7777
The funeral is being held Friday, with arrangements handled by the Peterson Chapel.