Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Cunningham of Rockford, Michigan, age 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 8, 2018. He was born to Kasmier & Cecelia (Coshenet) Dembroski on July 6, 1938, in Paulding, Michigan. Larry was the eighth of eleven children.
He and his siblings lived a challenging lifestyle in a small rustic cabin with no running water or electricity, yet Larry had fond memories of the childhood adventures and rugged life in the western Upper Peninsula. At the age of five, Larry’s mother died in a car accident. Not long after his mother’s death, he was adopted by Gervase & Agnes Cunningham of Rockford, Michigan and spent the rest of his life living in the Cunningham home on Bostwick Lake.
Larry worked for the railroad in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1956 to 1986 and was also a member of the United States Army Reserves. He was a lifelong, devout Catholic, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. He and his adoptive mother, Agnes, were long-time parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Rockford, Michigan and Larry was also a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.
He stayed busy outdoors hunting, fishing, and taking care of the lake property. In his free time, he liked to collect rocks, glass items, crystals, Catholic religious items, and other nostalgia.
Larry is survived by his older sister, Beverly (Dembroski) Roehm, and younger brother, Clifford Dembroski.
He was preceded in death by his adopted parents, Agnes & Gervase Cunningham, biological parents, Kasmier & Cecelia Dembroski, and siblings Gloria, Philip, Robert, Charles, Doris, Mary, Geraldine, and Donald. Family and friends would like to thank Elders’ Helpers, StoryPoint of Rockford, and Kindred Hospice for their loving care and compassion during Larry’s last few years.
There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 15th, at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, 4865 11 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI, 49341. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, following the visitation. Father Tony Russo will be presiding. There will also be a luncheon open to everyone immediately after the funeral Mass in the Holy Family Center of Our Lady of Consolation Church, beginning around noon.