James Joseph "Joe" Cunningham 1916-2011

CUNNINGHAM MAGUIRE ASHMORE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 6/29/2011 at 21:00:43

Sioux City Journal
4 March 2011

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa -- James Joseph "Joe" Cunningham, 94, of Correctionville died Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at Correctionville Nursing and Rehab.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anthon, Iowa, with Rev. Terry Roder presiding. Burial will be in Correctionville Cemetery, with military honors conducted by American Legion Mumford-Moon Post 79 and VFW Sioux Valley Post 1750, both of Correctionville. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home in Anthon. Visitation will continue 9 a.m. until the service time Saturday at the church.

James Joseph "Joe" Cunningham was born April 19, 1916, in Danbury, Iowa, one of eight children of James A. and M. Elizabeth (Maguire) Cunningham. He graduated from Anthon High School. He served in the U.S. Army for four years as an engineer. He was stationed in the Persian Gulf during World War II. Joe worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for 40 years, first working in Correctionville until the railroad closed operations there, then at Fort Dodge, Iowa, Sioux Falls, S.D., and other areas. He retired in 1976.

Joe married Carol Ashmore on April 30, 1949, in Le Mars, Iowa. To this union were born two children, James Michael and Nancy. The couple lived their entire married lives in Correctionville. They enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. Carol passed away on May 23, 2010.

Joe was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Anthon. He was also a member of Mumford-Moon Post 79 and Sioux Valley VFW Post 1750, both of Correctionville.

Family members left to treasure their memories of Joe include his son, Jim and his wife, Lana Cunningham of Cushing, Iowa; his daughter, Nancy and her husband, Lester "Butch" Alioth of Correctionville; grandchildren, James and wife, Laura Cunningham and their children, Allyson, Kaitlyn, Cassidy and Keegan of Shelby, Iowa, Jon and wife, Gretchen Cunningham and their children, Austin, Trevor and Trent of Minden, Iowa, Dennis and wife, Judy Alioth and their children, Zach, Justina and Noah of Sioux City, and David and wife, Tami Alioth and their children, Cole, Gage, Broc, Danika and Khloee of Anthon.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; three brothers, Tom, Maurice and Frank; and four sisters, Marcella, Gilda, Catherine and Anna.