Born ‎27 May 1929 Juneau, Alaska Territory, died ‎25 Apr 2016 Spokane County, Washington‎, age 86 years
Robert John "Mickey" McKANNA
(05/27/1929 - 04/25/2016)

Well known Spokane Valley attorney passed away April 25, 2016. Born May 27, 1929 in Juneau Alaska, the third child of Kathleen Doyle and Phillip Francis McKanna.

He is survived by one sister, Mary Jane Tarantino of San Diego, California.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, William McKanna; sister, Kathleen Lecou and wife, Christina Henscheid in 2010. His father died when he was eight. He and his family then moved from Juneau, AK to Long Beach, CA while he was a youth.

Later, Robert moved to live in Greenacres, Washington with his Aunt Vivian and Uncle Hilary to attend high school. He graduated from Central Valley High School in 1946. He became a member of the Air National Guard and completed the ROTC program at Gonzaga, commissioned Infantry Reserve and later crossed to the U.S. Army JAG corps officer program in 1952, rank of Major. He graduated from the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane in May of 1954, Juris Doctor. He was admitted to practice before the Bar of the State of Washington in September of 1954; admitted to practice before the United States Military Court of Appeals 1963; admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington DC in 1963; admitted to practice in the Western District of Washington State 1966; admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit in 1989.

Robert entered practice in January of 1955 and continued to office in the Spokane Valley for the next 50 years, recognized by the Gonzaga School of Law and the State of Washington for 50 years of continuous service in 2004. He joked he would take Friday's off to go fishing beginning in 1998. During his "part time years" and blessed with vitality, he traveled with his wife, Christina to Europe, Ireland, Canada and Mexico. He took many trips with his family. Highlights include whitewater rafting the Snake, retracing his family roots in Alaska hiking the Chilkoot Pass in the Yukon and hiking the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Pikes Peak.

Mick was an avid fisherman, bird hunter and outdoorsman. He loved to fish area lakes and bird hunt on the Palouse. He participated in Spokane's Bloomsday each year with his family from 1988 well into his late 70's. He enjoyed bicycling for recreation and staying active on area trails, including the Hiawatha Trail. At age 80, he bicycled the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene with his children.

He married Christina Henscheid in Spokane in August of 1958. He and Christina have six children, Michael and Wendy (Covert) McKanna of Rathdrum, Philip McKanna of Ephrata, Terry and Colleen (Haile) McKanna of the Spokane Valley, Maureen (McKanna) Welsh of Spokane Valley, Paul and Colleen (McKanna) McClure of Spokane Valley and Sean and Misty (Hunter) McKanna, of Fairbanks, AK. He is survived by six grandchildren.

Mick spent many years as an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was principle to the development of the St. Mary's Parish Foundation in the Spokane Valley. He was active in the Valley Elks, Eagles, Moose and Lions, as well as a life and charter member of the Knights of Columbus. He also worked as volunteer and commissioner with the Boy Scouts of America.

After Christina's passing, Mick remarried in November of 2013, having met Teresita M. Linares on a cruise. Together, they provided loving companionship for each other. They lived their twilight years at the family lake home, with a post card view and a collection of cherished life memories made there. He will be sorely missed. His advice and mild mannered personality will carry forward "In Memory Still" as a husband, father, uncle, grandfather and counselor to family, friends and clients.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary's School Foundation of the Spokane Valley. Rosary to take place at 7:00pm on Friday, May 6, 2016 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 304 S. Adams Rd. Spokane Valley, WA. Funeral Mass at 10:00am on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the same location. Please visit www.HennesseyFuneralHomes.com to share your thoughts and memories with our family.

Published in Spokesman-Review on May 1, 2016

Born ‎20 Feb 1934 Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho, died ‎21 Apr 2010 East Spokane, Spokane County, Washington‎, age 76 years