Dan McKinnon

Age 89, took his last breath on August 5th, 2013 in Santa Barbara, California. He will be remembered for his strong and independent spirit, risk-taking, creativity and wonderful sense of humor. He will be sorely missed by the many people he touched during his life.

He was born in Madison, South Dakota in 1924 and spent his childhood there until moving to Sioux Falls as a teenager. Pursuing his great love of planes and aviation, Dan obtained a degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue University. While there, he thoroughly enjoyed his fraternity life in Lambda Chi Alpha and met his future wife Madonna Godwin. His education was interrupted for a short time during WWII while he served in the Navy as a midshipman and pilot. In 1948 he and Madonna married and moved to Seattle, WA for his first Boeing job. Over the next 18 years with Boeing, he and Donna moved many times with their three children to Florida, Ohio, Oklahoma, California and Washington. They made many long lasting friendships along the way. Their last move was to Santa Barbara in 1968 for a job at Aero Spacelines. During his later working years, he was a real estate broker and started the Crawford-McKinnon Real Estate business.

In retirement, he and Madonna traveled extensively throughout the world and spent memorable times with their many friends and family members. Dan had an insatiable appetite for pursuing varied interests and adventures. He logged many flight hours in his private plane and volunteering for Aero Medicos. He loved being on the water: boating in the Pacific Northwest, salmon fishing in Alaska, and remarkably he continued to crew in sailboat races into his eighties. His long list of hobbies and accomplishments included golf, jewelry design and production, stained glass, furniture making, ham radio, clock and watch repair, wine and beer making, cooking and home improvement projects. He was continually sought out as Mr. Fixit by family, friends and the Assistance League where he volunteered for many years as their electronics repairman.

Dan is preceded in death by his wife Madonna for whom he was a loving husband and during her last years, a remarkable and patient caregiver, as well as by his parents and brother Richard. He is survived by his three children: Candace, son Dan (Donna) and daughter Neva (Greg); his 3 grandchildren Rachel, Joel, and Kate; niece and nephews; and his special friend Annie. His family will remember him as a man you could count on, with tremendous integrity, intelligence, grit and generosity.

The family wants to thank Valle Verde residents and staff for providing love and care for both Dan and Madonna in their later years and thank Assisted Home Hospice, especially Spencer for his compassionate care of Dan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Assistance League of Santa Barbara, Assisted Home Hospice or a charity of choice. A family memorial will take place at a later date.