Matthew F. Cunningham

Matthew F. Cunningham, 83, of Sioux City passed away following a lengthy illness Friday, March 2, 2007, at his residence surrounded by his family, friends and pastor.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Floyd Brown officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Army Reserves. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Matthew was born Jan. 6, 1924, in Fitzhugh, Ark., the son of George and Ida (Butler) Cunningham and stepson to Lucy Cunningham. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War.

He married Carrie M. Wesson in 1946, in Augusta, Ark. Carrie preceded him in death in 1969, in Stockton, Calif. He had been employed with Swift and Co. in Rockford, Ill., prior to being transferred to Sioux City in 1981. He retired in 1985 after more than 30 years of service. During this year, he also married Leaster Ellington. This union lasted until his death.

He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Rockford, Ill. He had been a long time member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. He also was an avid gardener and handyman. To substantiate his love of gardening, there was an article in the Sioux City Journal in 2000 pertaining to his beautiful flower bed. He loved to share his knowledge and wisdom with the younger generations. He was always educating them on the slavery era and the Great Depression years.

He was also known for his big heart. He was always assisting with rearing children, including his sister, Ruby Mae's, five children when she passed away. There were many children, nieces, nephews and in-laws that considered him a father to them. One of things he was most proud of was his child. For him education was key, he always stressed this importance to his children.

Although given to him through marriage, he acquired not a son-in-law, but a son in Baron Hannah. Throughout his long illness, Baron was there to assist the family with anything that needed to be done. Baron could not have treated Mr. C better or with more compassion and love even if he was his own father.

Survivors include his wife, Leaster; seven daughters, Bonnie Briscoe of Gary, Ind., Beatrice Clark of Michigan, Helen Byers of Los Angeles, Calif., Rita Cunningham-Williams of Matteson, Ill., Joanne Hannah and her husband, Baron of Sioux City, Marsha Thomas of Sioux City and Jan Smith and her husband, Wade of Largo, Fla.; five sons, Kenneth Floyd Cunningham of Los Angeles, Calif., Matthew Floyd Cunningham Jr. of Sugar Grove, Ill., Jerome Edward Cunningham of Crest Hill, Ill., Andre Cunningham of Ames, Iowa, and Quincy Floyd Cunningham of Rockford, Ill.; a sister and her husband, Willa Bea and Luther James Tyson of Augusta, Ark.; 25 grandchildren; three adopted grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; brother and sisters-in-law, Larry Carpenter, Sibby Dowd of Sioux City and Ruth Williams of Chicago, Ill.; and special nieces and nephews, Rose Mary Renfrow, Ruth White, Linda Dewberry, Krys and Timothy Carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Patricia Harrison; two brothers, George and Arthur; two sisters, Rosa Lee in infancy and Ruby Mae Paige; and his godson, Reginald (Bishop) Hayes.

Matthew will be greatly missed by a host of many including family, friends, church members and co-workers. He was a man of great patience, compassion and wisdom.