Jim McKay was born and raised in Hutchinson, graduating from Hutchinson High School. After graduating from Bemidji State University in 1979, he returned to Hutchinson and began employment with the ambulance service at Hutchinson Health. He transitioned to Allina Health EMS in 2012 when they began management of the ambulance service and retired in October 2023. He has been married to Karen since 1982 and they have three sons, Jeff and his wife Amy and their children Jayden and Jayce, Dan and his wife Sarah and their daughter Natalie, and Patrick. Jim is a life-long member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He enjoys fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling, home repair projects and spending time at the family cabin up north. He began working for Hantge Funeral Chapels in April 2018 as a funeral assistant.