Rex Don McKinnon, 87, of Lake City, Minnesota passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning January 20, 2026, at his home in Elysian Senior Living Lake City.

Rex was born on November 18, 1938, in Lamesa, Texas to Roy and Maxine (Sumner) McKinnon. His educational years were spent in various parts of the southwestern United States.  One of his surprising accomplishments was getting his legal driver's license at 14 years old while living in New Mexico.  Rex earned his Masters' Degree in engineering from the University of Oklahoma and worked for several aerospace industry companies which allowed him to work on the DC-10 aircraft and the Skylab space station.   He then worked as a civilian engineer for the US Air Force at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma and then Scott AFB in Illinois. His government work provided travel opportunities to Alaska and Europe.

On June 2, 1962, he married Margaret "Peg" Larson. They were blessed with a daughter, Vickie.

During his married lifetime, he lived in Oklahoma City, OK; Long Beach, CA; Moore, OK; Glen Carbon, IL; Collinsville, IL; and finally retired to Hot Springs Village, AR.  In Year 2019, both Rex and Peg moved to Lake City, MN to be closer to family.

Rex enjoyed playing golf and watching sports, especially his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys.  He could often be found "shootin' the breeze" at a local "watering hole" wherever he lived.

Rex is survived by his daughter, Victoria "Vickie" (Pastor Steven) Frentz of Lake City; and a grandson MIDN Matthew Frentz, USN.  He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and a brother, Richard McKinnon.

Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or via their website www.stjude.org

A memorial service and burial for Rex will be at the Faith Lutheran Church Memorial Garden in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas at a later date.