Dennis Michael Mckaig

Dennis Michael McKaig, “Kegger” to his family, friends, and fellow Marines, died May 31, 2024, of anaplastic thyroid cancer. He was 73.

Born in Paola, KS, Kegger grew up hunting, fishing, and playing sports. He learned the family business by helping his father, Roy McKaig, and grandfather, Clyde “Mac” McKaig, fix cars at the auto-mechanic shop Clyde started, Mac’s Garage. After graduating from Paola High School in 1968, Kegger proudly served our country for four years in the United States Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter crew chief from 1970-1971. When he returned to Paola after the Marines, he went to work at Mac’s Garage and would go on to run the business, keeping his family’s and friends’ cars safe on the road until his retirement in June 2018.

For many years, he sponsored a girls’ summer softball team, “Lady Macs,” and coached his daughters and their friends. He was incredibly proud of all his “ballplayers” and always enjoyed running into one of them or hearing what they were up to as the years went on.

He was a valued member of Ducks Unlimited and served on local and state chapters promoting wildlife conservation efforts. In the early 80’s, he was behind a six-year-long campaign lobbying the state of Kansas to offer duck stamps, the profits of which were necessary to match money raised by Ducks Unlimited to protect marshes in the state. The campaign was successful, and in 1987 the first Kansas Waterfowl Habitat Stamps were issued – coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited.

Kegger’s favorite place was outdoors. He found solace in the time he spent immersed in nature. An avid horseback rider, hunter, and master gardener, he and his second wife Alice enjoyed preserving their bounty during their retirement years – canning vegetables, soups, salsas, and more, much to the delight of family and friends. Their “cowboy candy” (sweet pickled jalepeños) was legendary.

Though he didn’t have enough time with them, he was proud to be “Grandpa Mac” to his own grandchildren, to whom he passed on his love of music and nature. They loved going on Grandpa Mac’s “buggy rides” in the Polaris around the farm. They could be heard across the field, laughing with him as they drove off on one of their adventures.

Those who knew Kegger – and probably even those who met him once – will recall he was quite a storyteller. Rest assured, at least 70% of his stories were true. We can confirm, for example, that he did run a marathon on a dare immediately after eating a cheeseburger. He made it to the finish line. The cheeseburger did not. Jury’s still out on whether he ever chewed and swallowed broken glass.

The stories that without a doubt were genuine were those he told of the respect and admiration he had for the men he served with in Vietnam. He was preceded in death by fellow Marines who lost their lives there – among them PFC Bruce Dennis Olson, Cpl George Jefferson Vangundy, and Cpl Michael Alan Young -- whose memories he carried with him and honored in how he lived his life, until his final day.

Dennis is survived by his wife Alice, sister Paula (Don) Armstrong, brothers Doug (Susan) McKaig and Darrel (Laura) McKaig, daughters Heather and Sarah McKaig, stepdaughter Mary Beth Anderson, grandchildren Elliot Mac Grubb and Rebekah McKaig, nieces and nephews, and a host of wonderful friends who rallied around him in his final year, for which he was both humbled and immensely grateful.

He had a habit of ending every phone conversation or in-person visit with a funny story or a joke. He often didn’t even say “goodbye,” just hung up or walked away leaving you laughing. While it’s hard to find laughter in this moment, we do smile and have great pride in the way he lived his life, honorably and to the absolute fullest. We don’t have to say goodbye either, because we know where we can always find him… outside, in nature. He’ll be there – in every bird, and every tree, and the wide-open sky.

In remembrance of Dennis, he suggested that those who wish may make a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Per his request, we’ll be tapping a keg in his honor at a celebration of life June 16th at the Town Square Event Center.. Bring your stories.