John Russell Cunningham

John Russell Cunningham, 85, of Mason City, IL, passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, at OSF in Peoria. John was born on December 7, 1939, to his parents, Robert Cecil Cunningham and Clara Lenora Cunningham (nee Steubinger) in Easton, Illinois. He graduated from Peoria Manual High School where he played football.

John married his sweetheart, Janet Marie Leinweber, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in rural Manito, Illinois, on November 8, 1959. Throughout their sixty-six years of marriage, they were inseparable. She survives, along with three children: Becky Allen (John); Linda Allen (Andy); and Lori Worner (Steve); grandchildren, Shelley Klingbeil (Kent), Jason Allen (Christy), Alicia Hernan (Will), Abby McCarty (Ryan), Kristin Harman (Zach), Cole Allen (fiancé, Morgan), Katie Worner, Kyle Worner, Jenna Worner, and Bailey Worner, as well as 12 great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings: Bob Cunningham, Stan Cunningham, Betty Onken, and James Cunningham.

John was a devoted husband and loved his family. He worked hard farming for 50 years. He put up one of the first irrigations in Mason County. He also loved to have fun - whether it was pulling the sled behind a tractor (doing his best to make everyone fly off the back), taking off on the wave runners, snow skiing down a mountain, or water skiing on the Illinois River. He was always ready to navigate and go anywhere on a boat. He once headed north in a ski boat along Lake Michigan after warnings from the Coast Guard to turn around. John was also known to make people laugh with his quick wit and sense of humor.

A funeral service will be held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in rural San Jose, 15757 N CR 3600E on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 1pm, with Pastor Offerman to officiate. The family will receive friends from 11am until service time. Burial will immediately follow the service at Mason City Cemetery.

Memorials can be made in John's memory to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, of which he was a member. Hurley Funeral Home in Mason City, IL, has been entrusted with John's arrangements.