Dan McKinney, 83, of Orient

Funeral Services: Will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Orient United Methodist Church with burial following in the Hill of Zion Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation: Will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Memorials: Memorials may be directed to the family to be established at a later date.

Dan Lynn McKinney was born on July 8, 1943, and passed away peacefully on August 30, 2026, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Dan was the last-born of identical twins, born at his parents’ farmhouse near Macksburg to Gale Winfield McKinney and Mary Elizabeth Chaney. He grew up in the Zion farming community, where he was a member of the Hill of Zion Church.

Dan attended Zion School for 10 years, where his love of baseball and basketball began. He played little league baseball under the coaching of his father, beginning a lifelong passion for athletics. He continued his athletic career at Orient-Macksburg High School, graduating in 1961.

Dan was a lifelong farmer, coach, and dedicated member of his community. He devoted much of his life to his family, his community, and the sports he loved. Through his work, coaching, and involvement with others, Dan made a lasting impact on the people and community around him.

In 1964, Dan married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Tompkins. Together they raised three daughters, Wendy, Kim, and Jennifer. Dan was a proud grandfather to Miguel Jr. and Jada Lynn, whom he adored greatly.

Dan and the girls stayed busy on the farm raising Yorkshire and crossbred hogs. Many weekends were spent traveling across the Midwest to various hog shows, where they proudly showed their animals. His love of animals extended beyond hogs, as he had a particular affection for white German Shepherds. Given that he had the company of four females at home, might it be a coincidence that all of his German Shepherds were male?

Before Dan began coaching girls’ sports, he spent his weekends playing town-team ball. He later coached both men’s and women’s teams that won numerous state championships and competed in several national championship tournaments. His teams brought tremendous local support to the games and made a lasting impact on the community and the state.

Dan was a humble, quiet man who lived his life with integrity. One of his greatest gifts to the community was his ability to coach and mentor others. Head coach John Dunlevy recruited Dan after watching him play, coach his own girls, and seeing his tremendous competitive spirit

For 17 years, Dan helped shape and mentor teenage girls through softball, basketball, and volleyball. His players fondly remember his favorite phrase, “Got ’er done,” and many speak about the influence he had on their lives both on and off the court and field. Although Dan had a tremendous competitive spirit, his players also remember him as kind and gracious, with one of the biggest smiles around.

Dan cherished time with his family and was happiest when he was with Sharon and their daughters. In the fall, they enjoyed road trips to Iowa City to watch the Hawkeyes play football or basketball, or trips to Indiana to watch Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

But his best trips were the ones that gave him the opportunity to spend time with his granddaughter, Jada, and to watch his grandson, Miguel Jr., shine while playing high school and college baseball. He was immensely proud of both of his grandchildren and treasured every moment he spent with them.

For many years, if you needed to find Dan in the morning, you could find him at the Conoco station in Orient with the local men’s crew, enjoying his Pepsi and peanuts while catching up on the local gossip. Those mornings were a familiar and cherished part of his routine.

Dan’s ability to connect with others through kindness, humility, and integrity will be a constant reminder to all those whose lives he touched.

Life well lived, Coach.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Gale and Mary McKinney, and his brothers, Patrick and Larry.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sharon; daughters, Wendy, Kim, and Jennifer; grandchildren, Miguel Jr. and Jada Lynn; brothers, Gale McKinney (Audra) and Gary McKinney (Marcia); along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, former players, and members of the community who were fortunate to know him.