Thomas Cunningham

Thomas James (Tom) Cunningham, 78, of Lisco, NE passed away on February 23, 2025 in Oshkosh, NE. Tom was born in Dalton, NE on February 26, 1946 to Matthew "Mick" and Pauline (McManis) Cunningham and grew up on the family ranch in rural Broadwater. Tom attended Kelly School through the 8th grade, attended Broadwater High School, and later graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1964. After high school, he attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agriculture Economics and Agriculture Education. Tom graduated from UNL in May 1969 and started his Vocational Agriculture teaching career in Missoula, MT that fall. The summer of 1972, Tom returned home to Broadwater where he opened and operated the Cunningham’s Wagon Wheel for several years on Highway 26 in Broadwater. Tom also spent many years in Crescent Valley, NV on Happy Daze Ranch and later Denver, CO owning and operating North American Agricultural Services before an injury brought him back home to Nebraska in 2001 where he resided in communities in the North Platte River Valley until his death.

Tom was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker Football fan. He lived for football season and Saturday afternoon games. Outside of Husker football, Tom loved watching PBR Bull Riding and calling BINGO in Garden County. He also appreciated history spending a lot of time researching and documenting local history, especially family history. Growing up, Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing, ranching, and racing horses with his family. Tom was a lifetime western lifestyle enthusiast; and he was a member the Broadwater Volunteer Fire Department, the Broadwater First Presbyterian Church, the Western Stock Show Association at National Western Stock Show, and of the Lisco Presbyterian Church.

Tom is survived by his sister and longtime caregiver, Sue Thompson of Lisco; brothers Don "Tub" (Winnie) Cunningham and Jerry "Jarlid" (Monica) Cunningham both of rural Broadwater; nephews Josh (Kelly) Thompson and Chance Cunningham; nieces Samantha "Sam' Cunningham and Hanah {Ryan) McDaniel; great niece Naola Thompson; and numerous friends and relatives.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Mick and Pauline Cunningham and his grandparents - Zoma T. and Fern M. (Wilkenson) McManis and James "Jim" H. and JoHanna "Hanna" C. (Kascke) Cunningham.

A memorial service will be held on June 28, at 11 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Broadwater followed by a reception at. The Starr Street Diner in Broadwater.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Broadwater Volunteer Fire Department, Lisco Volunteer Fire Department, or the Lisco Presbyterian Church.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh is assisting the Cunningham family.