Devoted family man
There is a new angel in heaven. Paul Neil McKinnon, Jr. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He touched so many hearts and will be sadly missed.
Paul passed away peacefully with his family by his side on July 26, 2015 in Kennewick, WA at Hospice House after fighting a courageous battle of esophageal cancer. He was born in Williams, MN April 29, 1929 to Paul and Ida McKinnon. He was one of nine children – Bill, Mae, Florence, Sandy, Dan, Paul, John, Malcom and Peggy.
He married the love of his life, Dolores Baade, on October 9, 1947. They were married 67 years. Paul was a very special father to his children, Stephen, Cynthia, Michael and Kevin. He was brokenhearted when he lost Michael at age 16 and Cynthia at age 56.
He worked in the power line industry for over 50 years. When Steve and Cindy were toddlers, they moved to John Day, OR where Paul worked with his brothers Bill, Sandy and Dan. Their family then moved to Minneapolis, MN where he started working for Northern States Power Company. While working for NSP, they moved to Forest Lake, MN and continued to raise their family. In 1978, Paul and Dolores moved to Kennewick, WA where he worked for IBEW Local 77.
Paul was a man of great faith and proud member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus.
Hockey was Paul's passion. He played for Williams High School, University of North Dakota (Hall of Fame), Semi-Pro Teams, Minneapolis Millers and Duluth Coolerators. He loved coaching his son's hockey teams as they grew up. He also played in a men's amateur league, the Walla Walla Warriors. He especially loved playing in the Snoopy Senior Hockey Tournament in Santa Rosa, CA for 20 years where he won many medals. He was 72 years old when he played in his last tournament.
He always went home to Williams to hunt and fish with family members.
Paul is survived by his wife Dolores; sons Steve (Debbie) and Kevin (Wendy); sister-in-law, Janet; son-in-law, Glen Tellinghuisen; grandchildren, Jason, Michelle, Paula, Kristy, Corey, Ryan and Angela; great-grandchildren, Gwenneth and Kade, Rylie and Sawyer, Elijah, Israel and Zoey, Ava and Mya, Malia, Malachi, Maverick and Marshall, Ryder and Jocelyn, Brynn and Baby to be.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ida; brothers, Bill, Sandy, John, Malcom; sisters, Mae, Florence; son, Michael and daughter, Cynthia. Also his special mother and father-in-law, Jason and Marjorie Baade.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 31, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kennewick, WA with interment at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Kennewick.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice at The Chaplaincy, 1480 Fowler St., Richland, WA 99352. Paul's family would like to thank Dr. Kohan and staff at Hospice House for their loving care.
Paul loved his God and his family above all else.