Leland Kenneth Cunningham

A celebration of Leland’s life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Elkhart Christian Church with burial to follow at the Elkhart Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Leland, the youngest of four children, was born January 29, 1928 to Fred and Alva (Stebbins) Cunningham. He grew up in rural Elkhart where he helped with the family farm. During winter months he and siblings lived with relatives in east Des Moines to make it easier to attend school. Leland graduated from East High School in 1946. He joined the Army at the end of World War II and served in Germany where he met the love of his life, Christine I. Spichtinger, on a blind double date. They fell head-over-heels in love and began their 65-year marriage in Germany.

Their oldest daughter, Susanne, was born in Germany. Upon returning to the U. S., Leland entered Iowa State University and studied agriculture. Two sons, Ronald and Colin, were born. After graduation in 1954 the family moved to Sioux City to farm. After a few years they returned to Des Moines where Leland began a long career as a U. S. Postal Carrier. Their youngest, Tammy was born and Leland and Christine raised their family. They returned to the family farm outside of Elkhart where Leland was again able to enjoy the rural countryside. He was talented at drawing and enjoyed watching old movies, making model airplanes and reading.

Leland was a member of American Legion Post #374 and Elkhart Christian Church. Leland is survived by his wife Chris of Elkhart, daughter Susanne (Ron) Dean of Pleasant Prairie, WI, son Colin (Jan) Cunningham of West Des Moines, IA and daughter Tammy Bruening of Omaha, NE.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Dawn Primrose, Melissa (Chris) Roethler, Risa (Kevin) Barker, Brent (Abby) Cunningham, Cara (Jeff) Jordan, Brianna Cunningham, Oliva Bruening, Delaney Bruening and Erica Bruening and by eleven great grandchildren: Samantha Dean, Jacob Sprague, Mason Roethler, Haley Bliss, Sydney Bliss, Kevin Primrose, Zackary Stark, Rilyn Cunningham, Hadlie Cunningham, Cooper Collins and Gage Beckel.

Leland was preceded in death by his parents, son Ronald Cunningham, step-son Bernd Vogel, brothers Dono and Merle Cunningham and sister Corrine Cunningham Paddock.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Elkhart Christian Church.