Jeffrey Daunt McKinney, age 61, a resident of Wheaton, IL, died suddenly, Monday, January 6, 2020. He was born May 7, 1958 in Germany.

Jeff grew up in McConnelsville, Ohio where he graduated from McConnelsville High School in 1976. He completed his first year of undergraduate studies at Ohio Northern University.  He later went on to complete his Business degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio. On August 22, 2008, Jeff completed his graduate work at DePaul University receiving a master's degree in Information Technology and Computer Science.

In August of 1998 Jeff met his wife, Erin Marie Medick. They were married on November 6, 1999. It was through Erin that he learned to love animals and became very passionate about the treatment and care of animals. He was especially fond of his dog, Sophie. Jeff had many passions. He became an instrument rated private pilot. He had an unquenchable curiosity and hunger to learn. He was extremely interested in medical science, at times, one would have easily presumed that it was a part of his formal training.

He is survived by his wife, Erin Marie McKinney, his children, Seth McKinney, of Seattle Washington and Elysa (Andy) Roberts of Zanesville, Ohio, his adoptive mother, Jacqueline Sallee, and adoptive sister, JoAnne McKee of McConnelsville, Ohio, his beloved dog Sophie and a host of friends that will cherish his memory forever.

He is preceded in death by his adoptive father, James McKinney and his birth mother Hilegarde Voegle.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 11:00 until 12:00 noon at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, where a memorial service will follow at noon. Please feel free to park in either the north or the south parking lots of the funeral home. There is also overflow parking available at the Gary Memorial Methodist church across the street to the south as well as St. John Lutheran church across the street to the east.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 424 E. 92nd Street New York, New York 10128-6804 (800) 628-0028 https://secure.aspca.org/donate or to the American Cancer Society PO Box 22478 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123 (800) 227-2345 https://www.cancer.org .

For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.