Ernest Leroy Cunningham, Jr.'s Obituary
Ernest LeRoy Cunningham, JR passed away at his home in Humeston, Iowa on Sunday, November 20, 2022 surrounded by his loved ones.Ernest was born on September 14, 1949 in Waterloo, Iowa to Ernest LeRoy and Betty June (Briggs) Cunningham. Ernest graduated from Saydel High School in 1968. After graduation, he went on to do one year of trade school before being drafted to the United States Army in 1969. Ernest was united in marriage to Rebecca (Lawson) Cunningham on April 2, 1977.Most knew him as either Ernie or Leroy. Ernie was a hardworking man and felt family was the most important thing. For those that knew Ernie well, he was a bit ornery and always had the best stories of his childhood. Ernie was an innovative thinker and was often found to be talking to himself, saying "If I want to talk to a smart man, I"ll talk to myself."Ernest worked for Firestone Tires from 1972 to 2005. After 33 years with Firestone, he went on to work with the Wayne Community High School as a custodian from 2005 until fully retiring in the fall of 2019. Since his full retirement, Ernie enjoyed spending his time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Ernie loved photography/filmography when he was younger, gardening and plants, Indian decor, smoking his pipe, old westerns, history, his birds and dogs, fishing; especially taking his kids night fishing, and visiting cemeteries (his favorite being Arlington in Virginia where his daughters took him for his 70th birthday).Survivors are his wife Rebecca (Lawson) Cunningham; sons LeRoy (Kristie) Cunningham III, Chris Cunningham, Nathan Cunningham; daughters Giget (Duane) Showers, Susan (Greg) Gilbert; brothers Danny (Sheila) Cunningham, Marvin (Dixie) Cunningham, Garry (Stacy) Cunningham; sister Rebecca Dowell, sister in law Rachel Cunningham; grandsons Cody Cunningham, Cael Cunningham, Dylan Showers, Kurt Showers, Andrew Cunningham, Zackery Cunningham, Gregory Gilbert Jr.; granddaughters Madison Showers, Allyson (Nick) Sedlock, Savannah (Ian) Stevenson; great grandchildren Jazmine, Juliana, Tayten, Lilly, Olivia, Mack, Abel, Leo, and Hunter; and a host of other family and friends.Preceded in death by parents Ernest and Betty Cunningham; Russell and Marietta Smith; brothers Larry Cunningham, Melvin Cunningham, Johnny Cunningham, Donny Cunningham, three unnamed infant brothers; brother in laws Tim Lawson, Mark Lawson; sisters in law Debbie Lawson and Joni Cunningham.Services will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022, 12:00pm at the Humeston First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022 from 11:00am-12:00pm at the Humeston Baptist Church. Graveside service to follow at the Humeston Cemetery.
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