Obituary
Merle Frederick Cunningham
Merle Frederick Cunningham, 77, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on December 9th, 2020 at Gundersen Lutheran after a grueling battle with COVID.
Merle was born on August 13, 1943 to Fred and Rose (Paulsen) Cunningham in Worthington, MN. He graduated from Kenyon High School in MN.
Merle enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1964, where he served for four years. His first year was spent going to electronics school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He was later stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The next 2 years he was stationed at Mildenhall Air Force Base located in England. His last assignment was at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Merle was also a proud, long-time member of American Legion Post 336 Onalaska serving in many roles and was a pillar in the legion community.
After his time in the U.S. Air Force, he joined Burroughs Corporation which later became known as Unisys. During his 38 years at Unisys, he met many lifelong friends. Merle took pride in providing great service to his clients and building relationships. He also liked to bring his kids on the road with him when time allowed.
On May 25, 1980 Merle married Doreen Diersen at Zion Lutheran Church in Eitzen, MN. Merle was an avid sports fan cheering on his beloved New York Yankees, Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Gophers or any team playing the Green Bay Packers. One of his favorite sporting events was the NFL draft every spring. In addition to cheering on his favorite teams, he loved supporting American Legion Baseball. He joined the Onalaska Legion Baseball program in 1996 where he served as the Onalaska Legion Baseball General Manager from 2003 through 2013. He recently served as a Regional Director for Wisconsin Legion Baseball. Merle was a role model and mentor to many ball players and coaches who came through the Legion Baseball programs he touched.
Merle will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Doreen; son, Darin (Leslie) and their children, Alyssa, Dylan; daughter, Debb (Jeff) Marquez and their children, Sami, Kaleab, Jaida; daughter, Dawn Cunningham and her son Jacob; son, Duke (Ali) Cunningham and their children Ella and Grayson; siblings, Linda (Roger) Anderson, Dennis (Ellen) Cunningham, Karen (Jerry) Montonye, and Glenda Cunningham; sister-in-law, Sharen Cunningham, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gordon.
A private service will be held for the family with military honors. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
To continue Merle’s love and passion for American Legion Baseball, all memorials will benefit local Legion Baseball programs.
We are so very sorry for your loss. I know he will be greatly missed. Love & prayers from Utah.
Love,
Steve & Amy Lyskowski
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Merle was a great friend and co worker .
Our sincerest Condolences. Merle always was a kind man and a jokester. We’ll miss seeing his smiling face and his can do attitude. He served his country and community well. Thank you fir sharing him with all of us.
Condolences to the Cunningham family. Merle was and example of what the good lord would want us all to be like. Will miss that infectious smile. Post 336 was very fortunate to have such a committed volunteer. Doreen n family so very very sorry for your loss.. I didn’t know he loved the packers that much.. Thanks for the memories Merle.
Our hearts are grieving for the loss of our friend Merle. We were always welcome into your family thank you for sharing your life with ours! We were truly blessed and treasure all of the laughs and good times! Until we meet again…Love the Carrows
My condolences to the entire family. My heart and mind are with you. Will forever remember Merle’s sense of humor.
Doreen, Sorry to hear about Merle. Great guy and full of humor. Our condolences to you and the family. Stick and Sandy
My deepest sympathy to Dorene and family he
E was a great guy and full of fun the legion will not be the same without,him.
So sorry for your loss. RIP Merle you will be missed at the post
My thoughts are with you all during this time. Merle was one of my favorites to see! Always look forward to him giving me a hard time! Doreen, you have my deepest sympathies love and hugs to you.
We are very sorry for your loss. The lifetime of love and memories will be forever with you. The family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Merle was a pillar in the Legion and one outstanding gentleman in general! He will be missed. My condolences to out to the family.
I’m so sorry for your loss and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Our deepest sympathies Doreen and family. Merle was an amazing man and friend. He will be greatly missed. We have many fond memories that we will cherish. May you find comfort in the memories you have.
It was always a pleasure to see Merle and Doreen out and about. it’s a devastating loss and he will be greatly missed
So sorry to hear of Merle’s passing, it’s just so sad. May you find comfort knowing that he is now with God, and no longer struggling. My prayers and thoughts go out to you, may you find peace in this difficult time,
Our family was deeply saddened to hear of Merle’s passing. Merle is the most liked person I have ever known. Merle is truely one of the all time greats. My condolences to Merle’s family.
So sorry to hear the very sad news of Merle’s passing. My condolences to his family.
I was lucky enough to work with Merle and I will always remember his humor, expertise, and commitment to customers and coworkers.
Sorry for the loss of Merle. He was quite a person. I met him in Atlanta many years ago at a Burroughs terminal school. Paths crossed several times since, worked with him and Joel for a short time. Always a good yakker and ready to poke fun at me. Enjoyed it because of his humor and personality. Guess we won’t meet at Little Miami some evening for supper! My loss. Again, Cunninghams, sorry for your loss.
We are so sorry to hear this sad news. Merle will be missed.
I am so very sorry to hear of Merle’s passing. It has been many years since I last saw him but for years he serviced the proof machine at the bank where I work. It wasn’t great when the machine broke down but it was always so fun to have Merle come. He was a great guy and loved the malts from the Viroqua Dairy, which was next door to the bank. He made us feel like we were his favorite customers, as I imagine he did for everyone he worked with. My sincere condolences to his family.
Family and friends, We are so sorry to hear of Merle’s passing. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Lynette Neumann and family.
So sorry for your loss. Merle was an amazing person with a wonderful sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.
Dale, Kathy and Tony Tweten
I am so sorry, Merle and the boys at Unisys became good friends with me and i will never forget his laugh and smile. RIP Merle.
Sorry to hear about Merle. We had fun working together at Burroughs.
God Bless him and his family. Liked by all , fun loving and a smile…thanks for 40 years of knowing you! Ask God to help your Vikings this year.
We are sorry for your loss. Merle was a special person.
Our condolences to Doreen and the family. Merle always brightened up our day and had something fun to say. We will miss him. He was one of the best.
Darin, Leslie, and family!
Janet and I are very sorry to hear of the loss of your father! We will have your family in our thoughts and prayers!
Dean Loeffler (an old Shopko friend)
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Merle. He had a smile and laugh which would ‘light up’ a room. We cherish the memories of our travels with the Ona. Royal basketball team many years ago as we got to know him, Doreen, and Duke. Our condolences to the entire family.
Our condolences to Doreen and family. Enjoyed many years of the Blue Moon coffee group with Merle.
Dustin and Doreen. Very sorry to learn of Merle’s passing. My condolences.
My condolences to Merle’s family. Merle was always a fun person to be around, quick with a laugh and a story. Although I haven’t kept in touch since the long ago days we worked together at Burroughs, I remember Merle and all the La Crosse gang fondly. I’m saddened to hear that the virus has taken away yet another great person.
So sorry to hear of the passing of Merle. He was the one from Unisys who came to take care of the problem with our proof machine at the Bank of Cashton. He was always in a good mood even though the problems at times were difficult. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Our deepest sympathy, Doreen, Duke and Family!! Wrap yourselves and hearts with his beautiful memories!! We remember ALL the great times with Legion Baseball!!
Doreen, we’re so very sorry to hear about Merle’s passing from this awful disease. Our sincere sympathy to you and your family. Hugs and prayers.
So sorry for your loss❤❤???
Doreen: Deepest sympathies to you and your family.
To all of Merle’s Family
Having known and worked with Merle for over 50 years– what a great guy. Always cheerful, even under adverse conditions- of which in the service buss. we always good days and some not so good. We will miss him.
God Bless
So sorry for your loss. What a great picture of Merle. I haven’t seen him for many years but thought about him often. His job brought him to La Crescent State Bank for many years. He was a great person and we were always happy to see him. He always came in smiling. God’s Blessings to Merle, his family and friends.
So sorry to hear of Merle’s passing. It has been many years since I last saw him. Merle used to come to the bank in Melrose to service our equipment. We all knew that when we put in a service call, and they send they would send Merle right out, we were in good hands. He was the service guy who could fix anything. We all enjoyed his gift of gab and great sense of humor. Deepest sympathy to the family of Merle.
Working with Merle over many years at Burroughs brings back memories that I will cherish forever. His upbeat spirit always generated a lot of positive outlook in the face some trying times. He was a true friend who always supported me in some difficult times.
My heart goes out to Doreen and Duke with this sad turn of fate.
God bless you both.
Doreen & family, Merle was the volunteer with a heart of gold & a smile at Legion Post 336. He & Doreen (along with others) loved Legion baseball & kept it going thru long hours behind the scenes. I enjoyed spending time with him & you, Doreen at the Legion. May he RIP. You are in my thoughts & caring.
So sorry to hear of the loss. Doreen and Merle have been the best neighbors we could have ever hoped for. I will very much miss talking to him while out in the yard.
Doreen and family ,Bill anI are so very sorry to hear of Merles passing. I had no idea . You guys were always there for us when we were neighbors . My thoughts and prayers are with you Doreen .
No one will know me, Doreen you might remember me. Way back in the 2000 era, I was the guy that bothered Merle after hours from Unisys. I met you, drank with you, Merle, Joel and had fun. When I left Unisys, we stayed in touch for a couple years, but that faded. I am so sorry for the loss of Merle, he was a good friend, and an awesome mentor in my new career. This guy had so much patience, He taught me so much…I don’t know how to honor him.