James V. Keck, 92, died on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

He was born on September 30, 1923 in Onida, SD, the second of three sons, to Marvin and Ethel(Johnson) Keck. The family moved to Rapid City in 1935 during the lean years of the Depression where they bought a dry cleaning business and Jim and his brothers were involved in the "pickup and delivery" part of the business at an early age.

Jim graduated from Rapid City High School in 1941, and he was drafted into the Army in 1943. Knowing the infantry was not for him, he decided he would like to join the "Ski Troops". He wrote his own letters of recommendation, and was transferred in June 1944 to the Army's 10th Mountain Division training site in Camp Hale, CO. He fought and was wounded in Italy in 1945 for which he was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. One of the highlights of his life was when his son Matt and daughter-in-law Sandi took him and Joanne back to Italy in 2003 to the areas he fought to liberate in WWII.

After the war Jim attended the University of Nebraska on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1951. He returned to Rapid City where he joined the North American Life and Casualty Company as an insurance agent. He met his future wife when he walked into the offices of KOTA and saw Joanne Joyce at work. They were married on February 15, 1954, and partners in life for the next 62 years.

During the following decades in Rapid City, Jim's insurance business expanded, and he became and remained very involved with his community. He was instrumental in the development of the YMCA, was a member of the Cosmopolitan Service Club for over 60 years, and was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church.

He was a Nebraska Cornhusker fan to the end, loved to ski, golf and travel, and would take on almost any adventure to spend time with family. He had a lifetime of friendships, and whenever he was with the ones he loved, he would always say, "It doesn't get any better than this!"

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joanne; his children Sherry (Jim), Jim Jr. (Sheri), Greg (Marcia), Mary (Bill), Tom (Deb), and Matt (Sandi); 12 grandchildren, and 6 great- grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Osheim Schmidt Funeral Home, and funeral services will be Friday, May 13 at First Presbyterian Church at 10:30 am. Burial with honors will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the YMCA Endowment Fund.