Walter Frank McKinney

Walter Frank McKinney, 102 exceptional years old, passed away Friday, March 20, 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Walter was born September 20, 1923, to Walter and Eva Lena (Luckinbill) McKinney in Guthrie County, Iowa. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School and was a WWII Air Corp veteran. Walter was employed for 23 years at the Des Moines VA Hospital. He was the Chief of Maintenance when he retired in 1988. During his retirement, Walter enjoyed family, farming, tinkering, home-made ice cream and spending endless hours in his John Deere tractors and on his Grasshopper Zero Turn mowers.

Walter, also known as Frank to friends and family; he enjoyed two loving marriages. He shared 49 years of marriage with his first wife, Dorothy Egertson McKinney, until her death in 1998. Walter and Dorothy enjoyed seeing their nieces and nephews grow up. They raised two daughters, Janelle and DeAnn, and were overjoyed upon the arrival of their cherished grandson, Gage. Walter married Colleen Devine in 1999, whom he spent 26 years sharing travel, stories, laughter and enjoying a multi-generation extended family.

Walter is survived by his daughters, Janelle McKinney (Rob Koberstine) and DeAnn (Jim) Jurgensen; grandson, Gage Jurgensen; nieces Charlotte (Jerry) Clark, Judy (John) Newlin and Cindy (Butch) Stiles; nephews, Randy Bray, Jim Bray and John McKinney; and stepsons, Kent (Monica) Devine and Douglas (Dawn) Devine. He is also blessed with a blended family of more grandchildren, great grandchildren, and three generations of nieces and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Eva Lena; his first wife, Dorothy Egertson McKinney; siblings, Evelyn McKinney Bray (Wilson) and Richard (Irma) Walter McKinney; and stepson, Kirk (Kim) Devine. Sadly, Walter’s second wife, Colleen Devine McKinney, passed away four days after him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Grace Lutheran Church, 5201 Urbandale Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Burial will follow the luncheon at Norwalk Cemetery in Norwalk, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church in loving memory of Walter.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print