CUNNINGHAM, Earl 1914 - 1939

CUNNINGHAM, HEALY, REGAN, DIXON, TIERNEY, OMARA, ANDERSON, KESSEL, OMALLEY, HOWES, MCFARLAND, SCHUSTER, JOHNSON

Posted By: Brian Cunningham (email)
Date: 12/14/2023 at 17:19:41

Young Man Meets An Accidental Death

The relatives and many friends of Earl Cunningham of Waukon were suddenly shocked and sorrowed upon learning of his accidental death which occurred at Manly, Iowa, early Saturday morning where he was employed on the construction of a school house.

A coroner reported that he had met death by suffocation from smoke and flames after his body was discovered in a small improvised home near the school project. Having slept alone in the home the evening before the tragedy, it is thought that he had fallen asleep with a lighted cigarette in his hand which must have ignited the bed clothing and rapidly filled the air in the small quarters with smoke.

The deceased was one of Waukon's best known and best liked young men and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Cunningham. He was born in Hanover Township October 27, 1914, being 25 years old at the time of death. He was educated in the rural schools of his early home vicinity and was a graduate of Waukon High School, Waukon Junior College and Loras College at Dubuque. He was initiated to the Knights of Columbus last spring.

Funeral services were held Monday morning in St. Patrick's church, Waukon, which was filled to capacity with his sorrowing friends. A solemn high Mass of Requiem was read by the Rev. E. J. McDonald, who also delivered the funeral sermon. Other clergy in the sanctuary were the Very Rev. Michael Martin, president of Loras College, Rev. James Regan, instructor at Loras, Rev. Coyne, director of athletics at Loras, Rev. Ferring of Manly, and Rev. Gorman of Waucoma.

Burial was in Mt. Olivet cemetery and carrying the remains to their final resting place were Joe Dixon, Charles Tierney, James O'Mara, Robert Anderson, Will Kessel and Pat O'Malley.

Surviving are his parents, four sisters, Mrs. Edgar Britnall of Iowa City, Rita of Des Moines, Helen and Dorothy at home; one brother, Leo, also at home.

Besides the immediate relatives from a distance who were in Waukon for the funeral, there were the James Cunningham family, Prairie Du Chien, Wis.; Emmett Howes, Independence; Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Walton, Seneca, S. D.; and Sister Mary Salvus, of Waucoma; Dr. and Mrs. Brintuall, Iowa City; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Cunningham, Prairie du Chien; Mike Healy, New Albin; Mr. and Mrs. John McFarland, Dubuque; Paul Schuster, Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Bollman, Frankville; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Wagner; Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Rsterhaus, Mr. and Mrs. Leander Kruse, Ralph Willenborg, Dyersville; John Burke, Loras college, Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Kirkeby, Decorah.

Source: Allamakee Journal published Wednesday, November 8th, 1939.