General Information
Full Name: Loren Weldon McKennon
Date of Birth: October 30, 1924
Date of Death: September 1, 2012
Loren’s Life Story
Loren “Mac” W. McKennon
Loren Weldon was born to parents Fred and Ona (Kirk) McKinnon on October 30, 1924, in Lamesa, TX. He was the youngest of eight children. Mac’s childhood years were spent in Lamesa, where he attended Sunday School and church at First Methodist. Attending Lamesa Grade School, Mac graduated from Lamesa High School.
He took an NYA program working as an apprentice electrician in the assembly and repair section of the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, TX. It was here he got his first taste of electrical and radio work. On April 5, 1943, Mac was drafted in the Army Air Corps, and after Basic Training, was stationed at Scott Field, IL, where he was trained as a radio operator/mechanic, which included Morse Code and a basic background in radio mechanics. It was here that he met his wife to be, Jeanne.
Mac was stationed at various bases in the USA for training, and sent overseas on June 6, 1944 (D-Day in Europe). He was assigned to the Troop Carrier Command in the China-Burma-India theater, where he flew 200 missions carrying troops, supplies and wounded service men.
Although he completed the requirements for rotation to the States in April, 1945, since the war in Europe was over, all rotations were frozen. Finally he was sent to Calcutta to board a troop ship to the USA, where he was sent to Santa Ana, CA. When the war with Japan ended, Mac was sent to Ft. Bliss, TX, where he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on September 30, 1945.
After visiting family in Lamesa, TX, Mac moved to St. Louis, MO, where he worked on the assembly line at GM. He attended Youth for Christ with Jeanne and her friends and made a decision to trust Christ as his Savior.
A short time later, Mac enrolled in the American Television School in Chicago. On July 27, 1946 at Hope Church in St. Louis, MO, they exchanged wedding vows. Mac and Jeanne were blessed with four children, Nancy, Kirk, Mark and Brent.
Following graduation in December of 1945, he was employed by RCA TV in St. Louis, and then later in El Paso, TX, where Mac joined a local Baptist Church. He served as an ordained deacon and taught Sunday School for over 60 years. He also worked with the youth in Training Union. Later, he worked for Zenith in sales and service. Upon retirement, Mac and Jeanne moved to St. Louis, then to Minnesota in 1994, to be near their sons and family. A man of great faith, Mac was an active member of the Prior Lake Baptist Church.
A resident of Prior Lake, Mac was 87 years old, when he was received by Jesus on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at St. Gertrude’s Health Care Center in Shakopee, MN.
Forever loved, Mac will be deeply missed by his wonderful wife of 66 years, Jeanne; children, Nancy (Ed) Jordan of Plano, TX; Kirk (Jo Ruth) McKennon of El Paso, TX; Mark McKennon of Minneapolis; Brent (Denise) McKennon of Menomonee Falls, WI; grandchildren, Nelwyn Scott, John Jordan, Neal (Jodi) McKennon, Libby McKennon, Rachel McKennon, Aimee McKennon, Amanda McKennon, Derick McKennon and Sam McKennon; great-grandchildren, Jordan Garret, Austin McKennon, Kaylee McKennon, Avery McKennon and Aubrey McKennon; many other loving relatives and friends.
Mac is preceded in death by his 5 brothers and 2 sisters.
Pall bearers for Mac will be Amanda McKennon, Derick McKennon, Rachel McKennon, Aimee McKennon, Sam McKennon, Libby McKennon, Neal McKennon, John Jordan.
The Celebration of Life Service will be on Tuesday, September 4 at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior, all at Prior Lake Baptist Church, 5690 Credit River Road, Prior Lake, MN. Pastors Ron Groshel and Ed Jordan will officiate. Mac will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, with full military honors provided by the Fort Snelling National Cemetery Volunteer Rifle Squad.
Memorials are preferred to Prior Lake Baptist Mission Fund.
The McKennon family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake Chapel.
Visitation
When: Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 10-11 AM
Location: Prior Lake Baptist Church
Address: 5690 Credit River Road
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Service Information
When: Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 11:00 AM
Location: Prior Lake Baptist Church
Address: 5960 Credit River Road
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Interment Information
Location: Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Address: Minneapolis, MN
