Joseph R Cunningham

Joe Cunningham, born in NYC on June 9, 1920, passed away at Hamilton Hospital NY on February 9, 2015. Joe served in the US Army during WWII, training hundreds of new soldier’s at Fort Benning, Georgia. He traveled and served throughout the Asia Pacific war until the war ended in 1945. Upon returning home, Joe started a dairy farm in Franklin, NY. Joe’s love for the water relocated his family to Goodyear Lake, NY where he spent many enjoyable years raising his children. Joe spent the latter part of his career working as a plant manager for the Bendix Corp where he facilitated the production of machinery for auto, aircraft, and spacecraft exploration. Joe’s team developed and built components of the lunar rover that is still on the moon. Joe retired and moved to Englewood, Florida where he lived for nearly 30 years with his late wife Virginia.

Joe loved living at the lake where he and his wife Virginia raised their family of four children. Joe was an excellent water skier and took great pride teaching friends and family to water ski. Joe served as the Goodyear Lake Association President helping to improve the lake’s water quality. Joe and Virginia spent many summers with daughter Claudia Kukenberger on Cazenovia Lake, and son Jim Cunningham on Eatonbrook Lake where they spent time enjoying their grandchildren. After retiring, Joe spent a great deal of time with his daughter Susy Wynne and her family enjoying the warm Florida weather which Joe thoroughly enjoyed. Joe loved the game of golf and in retirement he built many sets of custom golf clubs for family and friends.

Joe was an accomplished watercolor artist with artwork displayed throughout South Florida. Joe’s artistry depicts his love for water activities and his appreciation for nature’s beauty. At 94 years old, Joe instructed an art class while recently residing at the Villas, in Clinton NY. Joe donated some of his extensive artwork allocating all proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Joe is survived by his daughter Claudia and her husband Robert Kukenberger of Cazenovia NY: his son Jim and Eileen Cunningham of Madison, NY: Sue and Mike Wynne of North Port, Florida: and Jim Donlin of Oneonta NY. Joe’s grandchildren: Dr. Mike Kukenberger of Portsmouth, NH, Christine Kukenberger of Syracuse, NY, Dr. Sarah Cunningham of San Diego CA, Ellen Vinci of Buffalo NY, and Dan Cunningham, of Madison NY.