He leaves to mourn his passing, wife Nan; sons Zachary (Jen), Joseph (Serena); daughters Maggie (Sam) and Elizabeth (Charles); grandchildren: KeSean, Kayden, Lauren, Reese, Ben, Olivia, Andre and Emmett; many friends and beloved family members, especially his sisters, Pat and Kathy and his Oshkosh parents, Tom and Shirley Sullivan and his Sullivan brothers and sisters.
Don grew up on a farm near Miller, NE with his parents, Fred and Iona (Delimont) Cunningham and siblings, Tom, Kathy and Pat. After graduating from Kearney Catholic, Don entered Kearney State College, graduating in 1975. Nan and Don married on August 9, 1974 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Oshkosh, NE. They made their home in Kearney where they welcomed their four children. Don served as a teacher and coach at Kearney Catholic High School. He received his master's degree in History and specialist’s degree in Educational Administration and taught history as an adjunct professor at Midland University, Wesleyan University, Iowa Western and Metro Community College. He worked in high school administration in Lewiston, Beatrice, Fremont and Madison, NE. He created Pathfinder Traffic Safety Services while in Fremont. His daughter Liz continues as president of the company he built.
Don’s great love, other than his family, the New York Yankees, and "da Bears" was community service, having seen that modeled by his mom and dad. His membership in Kiwanis and serving as a church musician spanned many years. Don was also a board member for John C. Fremont Days. Don achieved breaking a Guinness World Record for the largest open-faced SPAM sandwich. He loved giving his time in the communities he lived and grew wonderful friendships along the way. Don was a guest editorialist at the Fremont Tribune and authored three books. Don and his family traveled the world. Don was also a member of the Fremont Community Theater. In Lincoln, his great joy was being a train conductor at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo when his grandsons, Andre and Emmett came to ride.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom, brothers in law, Jack Nosal and Jerry Stine and his grandparents, Matthew and Johanna Cunningham and Edward and Mary Delimont.
A gathering of memories for family and friends will take place on:
October 4, 2024 from 6 - 8 PM at 6401 South 46th St., Lincoln, NE. A Celebration of Don’s life is scheduled for October 5, 2024 at 10 AM at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall in Lincoln, NE. Lunch to follow. Casual attire.
Memorials to the People’s City Mission and a memorial bench fund at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Lincoln, NE. Even in death, Don’s request to “teach once more” will be honored through his body bequest to UNMC. His ashes will be scattered in Garden County at a later date.
“Country roads, take me home, to a place I belong...”- J. Denver
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