Richard (Dick) Donald Cunningham, 90, of Traverse City passed away peacefully in his home on June 26, 2026.

Dick was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 1935. In early childhood his family moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where he graduated from Muskegon Catholic Central. Dick earned his pilots license and purchased his own airplane. At a house party, he was introduced to the love of his life, Julie Alm. Dick was drafted and served in the United States Army, where he (rather unsuccessfully) battled a typewriter for his term of service. During weekend leave from basic training, he and Julie married on June 13, 1959 in Muskegon.

Seeking a better life for their children, they moved to Traverse City in 1972. Together with hard work, partnership, and determination they built their family home on the peninsula while at the same time established their family business, DJ Electric. Despite his color blindness, he built a successful career as an electrician and business owner. After more than 25 years of building their business, Dick and Julie sold their company and retired in the late 1990s. They spent their retirement split between the Lakeland, Florida area and Traverse City, Michigan, enjoying the best of good golfing and good company wherever the sunshine was to be found.

Dick was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing. He was a skilled sailor and competed in the Chicago-to-Mackinac Race. He loved good food and time with family, regularly toasting “To Family!” at family gatherings. Known for his dry wit, he will forever be remembered with a wry smile and twinkle in his eye after telling a groaner of a joke.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ivan Cunningham and Rose Fashingbauer and siblings Lorraine (Keith) Boltze, Rose Mary (Ted) Pikaart, and Dolores (Larry) Jenkins, and beloved grandson Christopher Baic and great-grandson Christopher Milan O’Hearn. He is survived and forever remembered by his wife Julie; daughter Carrie Cunningham of Traverse City; and sons Kevin (Judy) Cunningham of Traverse City and David (Divina) Cunningham of Anchorage, AK; 6 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 6, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church on the Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City. Family will welcome visitors an hour prior to Mass from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. A luncheon at the church will follow. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to AdvisaCare Home Health and Hospice.

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