NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa—Funeral arrangements have been set for 87 year old Phyllis Claire Cunningham of North Liberty, Iowa. She passed away peacefully on March 22, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic brain stem stroke.
In celebration of her life, a memorial service will be held Saturday March 27, 2021 at noon at the Mackey United Methodist Church of rural Boone: 288 V Avenue, Story City, Iowa. Family and friends are invited to gather there beginning at 11am. A light lunch will be served immediately after the service; with a graveside burial to follow at Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone, Iowa. The memorial service will be livestreamed for the many friends and family members who are not able to attend. The link to watch the service may be found on the Tribute Wall on Phyllis’ obituary page at www.lensingfuneral.com
Phyllis was born August 23, 1933 in Ames, Iowa to Robert Roy and Iona Ann (Hoffman) Wilcox. She grew up in Boone where she graduated high school just before marrying Norman Henry Knight on June 30, 1950. The couple had two children: David and Chere. Being a mother to her children was a great joy and is what kept her going after Norman’s death in 1984.
Having dedicated 25 years in food service at Iowa State University she retired in 1992. While there she enjoyed mentoring college students and feeding the many young learners. After retirement Phyllis married Bryce Allen Cunningham on May 23, 1992 in Iowa City where the couple spent 28 memorable years until his death on May 15, 2020.
She had numerous hobbies throughout the stages of her life. In her early years Phyllis loved to play piano, sing, and square dance. After raising children, she found enjoyment flower gardening, traveling with Bryce and participating in Red Hat Society events. As age set in, she found joy in family gatherings filled with great food, laughter, and board games. She also loved to share a beer, or two.
Phyllis is survived by two children: Dave (Mary) Knight and Chere Knight-Miller; three stepchildren: Catherine Cunningham, James (Lisa) Cunningham and John (Renee) Cunningham; five grandchildren: Dan (Jill) Knight, Amy Knight, Alisha (Ben) Horgen, Aaron Miller (Sammy Bengtson) and Elayna Cunningham; four great-grandchildren: Evelyn Knight, Leah Knight, Selma Horgen and Henry Horgen who all affectionately refer to her as Grams and Great-Grams. Grams will be remembered for her loving and caring nature.
She was preceded in death by husbands: Bryce Cunningham and Norman Knight; her parents; brother Kenneth Wilcox; sister Marie Harris and stepson Robert Cunningham.
In honor of Phyllis Cunningham, memorial donations can be made to the North Liberty Food Bank, where she enjoyed volunteering, The Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County in Iowa City, who lovingly cared for Bryce in 2020, or the Mackey Community Preservation Fund.
Online condolences and memories of Phyllis may be shared with the family at www.lensingfuneral.com
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