EL SALVADOR - A 54-year-old Bloomington man died in El Salvador early Saturday while on a mission trip.

David McKinney was swimming in the ocean near Playa San Diego beach when he died.

McKinney and 16 others from Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington and other parishes had arrived Friday to build homes for the poor with the Fuller Center for Housing, founded by international housing activist Millard Fuller, who spoke last October at Holy Trinity.

McKinney had been a parishioner since 1995. Monsignor Doug Hennessy of Holy Trinity described McKinney as "very involved in the parish and very active." Two daughters, Katie McKinney, 31, and Maggie McKinney, 32, who reside in Bloomington, survive him. His ex-wife, Angie McKinney, lives in Elmhurst.

The other volunteers have decided to remain in El Salvador until July 1 as originally planned.

"They're going to continue their mission and dedicate it to David," Hennessy said.

The death remains under investigation in El Salvador. Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home will handle funeral arrangements.

McKinney was born in Durango, Colo. His parents reside in Albuquerque, N.M., where he grew up before attending high school in Dwight and then moving to Eureka and Bloomington. His two sisters, Paula Schoeneman and Dotty McKinney also live in Albuquerque.

"He was probably the holiest person I ever knew," said Mary Bechtel, longtime friend and Holy Trinity director of religious education.

"He loved everybody," she continued. "He didn't have any prejudice against anybody. He treated everybody with love and kindness. It's a great loss for so many people."

She added that his involvement was widespread in the parish.

"If there was something going on in our church, he was there, if not in a leadership role, than doing whatever needed to be done."

Bechtel said he was a member of the team that mowed the grass on the church's grounds and he frequently led scripture studies. He was also a member of the parish's council.

"He was a humble servant of God," she said.

He was known to give money and rides to homeless people and to help serve food at Safe Harbor homeless shelter. He was also involved in a national social justice program called JustFaith.

Sharon Priester, the parish's former director of religious education, now serves as regional director for religious education, serving Bloomington, Lincoln and Pontiac.

"He was a very giving, caring man," Priester said. "He was so intent on sharing God's word with others through his actions," she said.

Priester said he also was active in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. He enjoyed sharing his faith when helping to bring people into the Catholic faith, Priester said.

"He was just a really great man," said his daughter, Maggie. "He had a really good sense of humor. We all loved him so much."