CUNNNGHAM, Clifford Delmar

CUNNINGHAM, DOTY, PRALL, GORSLINE, BENDLIN, WAUGH, LUKES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/29/2016 at 22:15:41

Obituary ~ Clifford Delmar Cunningham
February 13, 1925 ~ November 30, 2002

Clifford Delmar Cunningham, son of Clarence W. Cunningham and Mabel Doty Cunningham, was born Feb. 13, 1925, in Des Moines and died Nov. 30, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City. He was 77.

He spent his early years in Des Moines and graduated from East High School in 1942. He attended the University of Alabama and served his country in the U.S. Army from 1943 to April 1946. He served with the 507th Parachute Infantry as a demolition specialist. He was among the many paratroopers who jumped over the Rhine River during World War II.

Mr. Cunningham was married to Wilma H. Prall on Aug. 24, 1947. The couple became the parents of four daughters, Laura, Marcia, Jan and Connie. Mr. Cunningham was a sergeant with the Des Moines Police Department for 19 years. He and his brother, Harold, were the first brother team to be partnered together on the department. He resigned from the police department and he and Mrs. Cunningham moved to Leon in 1966 where they owned and operated Elder Lane Manor from 1966 to 1974 and the Leon Care Center from 1974 to 1997. The couple moved to Spencer in 1981 and lived there for 15 years before moving to Osceola in 1997. Mr. Cunningham has lived in Mason City for the past two months.

He was a member of the Rotary Club, Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club, the Des Moines Police Band and Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leon. He enjoyed fishing and playing cribbage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife earlier this year; a granddaughter, Jessica Gorsline and four brothers.

Mr. Cunningham is survived by his four daughters, Laura Bendlin and her husband, Larry Bendlin, of Spencer, Marcia Waugh and her husband, Jerry Waugh, of Grundy Center, Jan Lukes and her husband, Ron Lukes, of Mason City and Connie Gorsline and her husband Steve Gorsline of Osceola; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and a host of friends.

Services for Mr. Cunningham are at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leon at 11 a.m. Dec. 6, Pastor J.R. Wheeler officiating. Honorary bearers are Donnie Bendlin, Shane Bendlin, Ben Bendlin, Jim Martin, Jason Martin, Andy Lukes, Eric Lukes, Michael Lukes and Danny Gorsline. Interment of the cremains will be in the Leon Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Kale Funeral Home of Osceola was in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2016