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Edward H. "Doc" Cunningham (2016)

CUNNINGHAM, BURR, HOWE, MONTROSE, SIMPSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 6/15/2016 at 14:26:26

Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, June 15, 2016

EDWARD H. "DOC" CUNNINGHAM, Urbandale, Ia

1923 - 2016

Edward H. "Doc" Cunningham, a proud son of Iowa, died in the comfort of surrounding family at Taylor House on June 11, 2016.

Born January 5, 1923 in Cresco, Iowa, to Lloyd Cunningham and Gladys Burr Cunningham, he was raised in the spirit of rural Howard County Iowa where hard farm work was rewarded. Beyond farm chores, hunting, fishing and sports filled his childhood. He graduated from Cresco High School in 1940 and served in U.S. Army during WWII from December, 1942 through February, 1946 in the European Theatre and later in the Philippines and Japan.

His father Lloyd was Executive Secretary of the Iowa State Fair, and in 1946 offered Ed an opportunity to start a beer concession at the Fair. With the help of ISU fraternity brothers, Ed began selling bottles of Budweiser from big tanks of chipped ice, making sure the beer was COLD. The business became known simply as "the Bud Tent", quickly blossomed and today is still a popular stop — though greatly expanded — at the Fair. From his "King of Beers" chair at the Bud Tent Ed often napped but also routinely dispensed his strong opinions with great assertion and welcomed his many friends with big, warm handshakes, but seldom a free beer.

He received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from ISU in 1952. His practice centered on "meat animal" care in Corning and Winterset, Iowa, from 1952 to 1968 and was widely known as "Doc."

An active fan of Iowa State University athletics, Doc served as president of the National Cyclone Club and was a life member of the ISU Alumni Association. Ed also loved to tell of his bi-annual fishing trips to Canada with his pals, complete with fish tales. He was a devout member of the Catholic Church and proudly belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Urbandale Post 663 of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Mary Linda Cunningham of Urbandale and children: Lloyd (Linda) of Lakeland, FL ; Michael(Keenan) of Clive, IA; Edward(Linda) of Urbandale, IA; Beverly(Rick) Howe of Sarasota, FL and Kelly(Rick) Montrose of Chesapeake, VA, John of Sacramento, CA and stepdaughter Andrea Simpson of Des Moines. Survived by eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Virginia Marie Cunningham.

Family will welcome visitors at a visitation from 3-5 p.m., with a 4:30 p.m. Rosary, on Sunday, June 19, at Iles Westover Funeral Home, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines. Services will be at St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church, 4600 Meredith Drive in Des Moines at 10a.m. Monday, June 20, 2016. Memorial contributions may be directed to Wounded Warriors, St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church, Taylor House hospice and St. Joseph Emergency Family Shelter.

ILES, Westover Chapel, 6337 Hickman Road


 

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