Obituary of Kenneth Leroy Cunningham Jr.

WHITEFIELD – Kenneth Leroy Cunningham, Jr., 83, peacefully and while in the presence of adoring family, ended his work here and went home to the loving embrace of Our Lord on Aug. 13, 2024.

Born April 3, 1941, to Kenneth Cunningham Sr. and Rachel (Small) Cunningham, Kenny had six siblings, Patricia (Glidden) Cunningham, Kathleen (Wrigley) Cunningham, Linda (Estes) Cunningham, Thomas Cunningham, Dorothy (Shuman) Cunningham and Ruth Cunningham.

Kenny lived the majority of his life in the Oakland area, with time spent in Burnham, North Berwick and Whitefield. Kenny graduated from Williams High School in 1959 and married his high school sweetheart, Iva (Knox) Cunningham in December of 1961.

Kenny was known for his lighthearted and conversational ways, as well as his dedicated and driven work ethic. Kenny entered the workforce as a co-worker to his parents at the Harris Bakery of Waterville, from there he gave many dedicated years to the Waterville Morning Sentinel in the engraving department. In 1978, Kenny, following his love for animals and working the land, became a chicken farmer in Burnham and raised his children in idyllic rural Maine. Kenny later returned to his craft at Graphic Color of Waterville where he was a color scanner operator. Kenny, a seasoned veteran of the industry finished out his career with Spencer Press of Wells, where he was beloved for his farmer’s work ethic and can-do attitude.

In his retirement, much like his professional life, Kenny was a gentlemen farmer, a skilled woodsman and an outdoorsman like none other. Much like his namesake, Kenny was a natural fisherman and renowned deer hunter, from his childhood to his death, a season didn’t pass where he didn’t “tag out” with a beautiful white tail or creel full of brook trout taken from land and lakes that he loved.

Kenny had an unshaken faith in Our Lord, Jesus Christ and lived a life that was a constant statement of hope and love to those around him. He was a giver and an encourager, spending most of his free time working in his gardens fertilizing, weeding and harvesting or in the woods, cutting, splitting and hauling. Whether it was zucchini or tomatoes, oak or ash, he would keep some, but mostly give it away to others in need. But where Kenny gave most was time in conversation, a skilled story teller and a reciter of scriptures and quotes, his intent was always the same, he wanted to lighten your load, bring joy to your heart and inspire you to move ahead.

Kenny was blessed to be married to Iva, a spouse who was his greatest admirer and at his side through nearly all the seasons of his life, until our Lord called her home. In Kenny’s later years, he received one of his greatest blessings, a second opportunity at love. Kenny happily married Sue (Montag) Cunningham of Whitefield, who gave him a new lease on life and showered him with love and admiration daily and selflessly cared for him till his passing.

Kenny was proudly the father of four children, Kathy (Cunningham) Lawler and fiancée James Smith of Oakland, Kelly (Cunningham) Dyer and spouse David Dyer of Sidney, Kenneth Cunningham III and spouse Kristen Cunningham of Lyman, and Trisha (Cunningham) Brown and spouse Michael Brown of Georgia. A loving grandfather and great-grandfather to many, Kenny looked forward to Heaven, where he could be reunited with his adored granddaughter, Kristin.

Funeral service will be held on Friday Aug 23 at 2 p.m. at Kingdom Life Church 191 High St., Oakland, reception following.