Joseph "Dode" Cunningham, 95, of Fort Dodge, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the Marian Home.
Funeral services will be 9:45 a.m. Friday, July 31st in the chapel of Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew's Church in Clare with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery, Clare. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where there will be a vigil at 7 p.m.
Surviving are his children, Kierran Einwalter and her husband Jerry of Fort Dodge, Joseph Cunningham and his wife Sue of Fort Dodge, Sheila Cunningham of Houston, TX; 10 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Josephine (Barrett) Cunningham; his wife, Rose in 1999; brothers, Conrad, Vincent, Leo, John and Hubert Cunningham; sisters, Marguerite Arnold and Edna Cunningham.
Joseph Cunningham was born April 22, 1914 in Clare, Iowa. He attended schools in Clare, graduating from St. Matthew's High School. He began farming with his family and continued to farm until his retirement. In addition, he was a Webster County Supervisor for 8 years. On November 28, 1942 he was united in marriage to Rose McElroy at St. Matthew's Church in Clare and they established their home in Clare.
Joe was a 4-H Leader, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 613, and St. Matthew's Holy Name Society.
