Constance Jean McGinnis, 83, of Ottumwa and formerly Grinnell, IA passed away on June 30, 2026.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Westfield Cemetery in Grinnell, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to Krystal Hines, mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Connie was born on December 27, 1942, in Minneapolis, MN to Christian and Eleanor (Reed) Murk. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Grinnell, where she lived until her graduation from Grinnell High School in 1961.

Connie met Jerry McGinnis when she was babysitting his brothers’ children. The couple were united in marriage on November 21, 1964, at a country parsonage in Putnum County, Missouri. To this union the couple had two sons, Scott and Steve. The couple moved to Laurel, IA where they owned and operated a tavern, where they enjoyed serving the farmers and hosting card games. They then moved to Grinnell after Jerry took a job in Marshalltown. She worked briefly at GTE phone company before deciding to stay home to care for their children.

Connie enjoyed being outdoors, camping, boating, gardening, and canning. She loved to read, complete her crossword puzzles, bake for family members, watch her tv shows, especially Storage Wars, loved her dogs, and pets, and her favorite snacks were Reese’s fastbreak and taffy. She will be remembered for always being happy, and not having a mean bone in her body, and that she loved to take care of others. Her family will miss Sunday fried chicken dinners. She was a member of the Eagles Club.

Connie is survived by her son, Steve McGinnis, her daughter-in-law, Vickie McGinnis, her grandsons Adam (Breanna) Underwood, Shawn (Rachael) Underwood, great-grandchildren Kylie, Brantley and Myra, her nieces, Jill Hines, Brenda (Carl) Nelson, Stacy (Ed) Kriegel, her great nieces and nephews, Timothy Pettit, Patrick Hines, Krystal (Jerred) Hines, Joshua Nelson, Alicia Nelson, Samuel Nelson, Sadie (Joe) Kriegel, Jake (Jen) Kriegel, and Randi Kriegel and her great-great nieces and nephews, Logan, Michelle, Joseph, Haylei, Christopher, TJ, Dallas, Teylor, Emma, Silas, Alric, Jac, Lillie, Corbin, Brielle, Garrett, Elaina, Sawyer and Ruth, and cousins, Peggy Young, and David Reavis.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her son, Scott, her parents, Christian and Eleanor, and her three sisters, LaVonne, Joyce Ann, and Helen.