William L. Cunningham

OTTAWA - William L. Cunningham of Ottawa, age 89, died Friday, June 12, 2009 at Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick's Church in Ottawa at 10 A.M Thursday. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery with full military rites by the Ottawa American Legion Veterans Group. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gladfelter Funeral Home with prayer service at 4 P.M. Pallbearers will be Mr. Cunningham's grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Dana Provance, Larry "Butch" Bayer and Harvey Norwick. Mr. Cunningham was born May 10, 1920, in Ottawa to Lyle and Mayme (Hellman) Cunningham. He married Lorene Von Hackler on March 14, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa. She died November 21, 1995. He was a 1937 graduate of Ottawa High School and a disabled veteran of World War II. He retired as a diesel truck mechanic in 1985 from Ottawa Truck Center. He previously worked at Tri-State Motor Transit Inc. in Seneca, IL and for 26 years at Scherer Freight Lines in Ottawa. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 3rd degree Knights of Columbus #634 in Ottawa, American Legion Post #33 in Ottawa for 61 consecutive years (since 1948), Disabled American Veterans, Charter member of Local 1880 International Association of Machinists, A.A.R.P., Ottawa Moose Lodge #960, former member of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., "Corvets" American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, and a well-known home winemaker for many years. He is survived by one son, Alvin R. "Mort" (Rita) Cunningham of Streator, IL; a brother Fred (Lanette) Stevenson of Momence, IL; a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Ruff of Centralia, IL; 6 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two sons, Peter M. Cunningham and Lyle W. Cunningham, two brothers, Arthur and Robert "Pork" Cunningham, and a sister, Marnie, at birth. Memorial contributions are suggested to masses in William's name or the donor's choice.