LTC Gary Monroe McKenzie Retired U.S.Air Force

LTC Gary Monroe McKenzie, Retired U.S. Air Force, age 77, passed away November 30, 2021 at his home in San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Shirlyn McKenzie; sons, Dr. Scott G. McKenzie and wife Belynda, Shawn McKenzie and wife Dora; grandchildren, Lauren Stein and husband Matt, Kristen McKenzie, Weston McKenzie, Waylon McKenzie and Wyatt McKenzie; great-grandson, Bowen Stein.

Gary was born on June 29, 1944 in Superior, Wisconsin to Alex and Dorothy McKenzie. He spent his childhood in Superior and attended Superior Central High School where he excelled in his academics and endeavors including ROTC and athletics. He was part of the State Champion Curling Team during high school. He graduated high school in 1962. He had many jobs including a full service gas station attendant, summer camp kitchen worker, and later as a longshoreman loading and unloading grain in the shipyards. His spare time was spent at his parents’ cabin on Lake St. Croix hunting and fishing with his father. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Superior where he was a member of ROTC. He received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirlyn Bonnie Olson in 1965 and they remained best friends through 56 years of marriage.

After graduation, Gary joined the United States Air Force. He served through three major conflicts - Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and Desert Shield - as well as others that cannot be printed. During his military service, he traveled the world and moved assignments frequently. During his service Gary served as a munitions specialist, logistics officer, and military aircraft maintenance officer. His first assignment was in Denver, Colorado. During this time, he celebrated the birth of his first son, Scott in the summer of 1967. He then moved to Tampa, Florida followed by several years in the Philippines. While there, his second son, Shawn was born in 1971. Following his overseas tour, he moved to Chanute, Illinois followed by North Dakota and Miami. Gary then moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1977 where he served in the 433rd Air Lift Wing at Kelly Air Force followed by a short duty at Randolph Air Force Base until his retirement as Lt. Colonel in 1996 after 30 years of military service. During his military service, Gary also pursued higher education and was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1980.

After retirement, he continued to travel the world by air and ship and visited many historical sites with his wife including Russia, Australia, Germany, China, New Zealand, and Hawaii. He was interested in, and pursued his genealogical roots both in studies and in his visits. In between travels, he was known to winter in San Antonio, for hunting season especially, and summer at his cabin located in remote Northern Wisconsin. He was an avid outdoorsman and spent his free time golfing, hunting and fishing. At any time, or in any weather, he could always be counted on to catch a trophy fish or harvest a trophy buck. He supported his family, church, community and friends. He continued to serve his community as he volunteered in various capacities at his church, with San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (SAMMinistries), and with Christian Assistance Ministries (CAM). He loved his family deeply, nothing was too good for them. He pushed continuing education and higher learning to his family and supported them as they pursued advanced degrees. His focus and support on education is exemplified in his family with two doctoral degrees (and another in process) and 7 masters degrees. After a lengthy battle with brain cancer combined with a broken femur, he left this earth on November 30, 2021 on his own terms.

Visitation will be at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera road, San Antonio, Texas 78238 on Friday, January 14, 2021 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. A funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday, January 15, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church, 9944 Leslie Road, San Antonio, Texas 78256 with interment to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

If friends wish to give a memorial, they can donate to Zion Lutheran Church, San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries or Christian Assistance Ministries in his memory.