Lawrence McKinnis

Lawrence “Larry” McKinnis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, physician, and man of faith, was born on October 25, 1934, in Sterling, Kansas, to Warren and Avanel (Ellis) McKinnis.

Larry grew up in Lyons, Kansas, until the seventh grade, when his family moved to Boulder, Colorado. He developed a lifelong love of the outdoors there, especially hiking in the mountains, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from high school in Boulder, Larry completed his bachelor’s degree in just three years and was accepted into medical school in Colorado.

Following medical school, Larry completed a one-year internship in Rochester, New York, and then a residency in general medicine in Ventura, California. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dorothy. The two married in 1962 and soon began a life together filled with family, faith, service, and adventure.

After their marriage, Larry and Dorothy moved to Puerto Rico, where he was stationed at Roosevelt Roads. After two years, they moved to Embudo, New Mexico, where Larry served as the physician at Mission Hospital. While there, their family grew with the birth of their three sons.

In 1967, Larry and his family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he completed his residency in radiology. During their time there, their daughter was born, completing their family. In 1970, the family moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where Larry joined Hastings Radiology Associates. He practiced radiology there until his retirement at the end of 1999.

Larry’s greatest passions in life were his family and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His faith was at the heart of everything he did. He loved sharing the message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness with others and quietly helped countless people, both spiritually and financially. Larry believed that everything he had ultimately belonged to God, and he sought to use his time, talents, and resources to serve others.

He was a devoted and active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Hastings, where he served on numerous committees, taught Sunday School, and volunteered in many capacities. He also valued his community and was active in the Hastings Rotary Club.

Outside of medicine and service, Larry enjoyed playing tennis and spending time with those he loved. After retirement, he and his beloved Dorothy traveled extensively, visiting many countries and creating memories they cherished together.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Avanel McKinnis; his son, Mark McKinnis; his brothers, Dean and Ralph McKinnis; and his sister, Barbara.

He is survived by his son, Stephen McKinnis; son, Daniel (Mary) of Apache Junction, Arizona, and their children, Laura, Donnie, Mathew, and Leia; daughter, Deborah Anderson (Kip) and their children, Kyle and Katie; brother, Ray McKinnis; and sister-in-law, Alyce Lang.

Larry leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, service, and devotion to his family. His life touched countless people, and his generosity, compassion, humor, and unwavering faith will be remembered by all who knew him.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Grace United Methodist Church in Hastings, with Pastor Josh Siefert officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Grace United Methodist Church. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Lawrence’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page.