George McKinney

George W. McKinney, 91, beloved husband, father, & grandpa died at home August 13, 2023. George was born in Mankato, MN to George & Hazel McKinney. Raised in Worthington, MN during the depression & WWII, he remained devoted to his many hometown friends. He attended nearly every high school he could.

George started his long travel career by spending his college summers working in Yellowstone hotels as a bellhop, then later, working as a tour guide for the Union Pacific Railroad where he met a lovely Chicago school teacher, Alice, who was a member of the tour & loved traveling, too. George got a job with a Chicago tour company & settled there to marry Alice one year later.

George & Alice raised their four children in the Chicago area, moving to Rockford, IL, where he was eventually President & co-owner of Illinois International Travel. George’s travel agency specialized in tours and was so successful that he was invited by the Chinese government along with other tour operators, to visit China when it first opened up to the west in the early 80s. He & Alice traveled around the world, one of their favorite places being southern Spain.

George was also a dedicated football fan having season tickets to both the Chicago Bears & Green Bay Packers although in a pinch, when they played each other, he’d root for the Packers.

George eventually moved to the Montebello independent living community in Albuquerque, NM, to be near family where he quickly made friends, joining the resident’s committee, & starting a recycling program.

George is predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Alice Czubak McKinney. He is survived by his four children, Randy (Bobbie) of San Marcos, CA, Dr. Renee (Jack Zanini) of Boston, MA, Russell (Mary) of Rochester, NY, & Rebecca of Albuquerque, NM. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dr.Christopher (Liz) of Rochester, NY, Ion of Milwaukee, WI, Toby & Michael Zanini, both of Boston, MA, as well as two great-grandchildren, Ada & Graham of Rochester, NY along with several nieces and a nephew.

A memorial service in Rockford, IL, will be in November, 2023.