Robert Cunningham, 93, died November 7, 2018 from complications of Congestive Heart Failure. Bob was born June 11, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended St. Peter’s grade school, Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst College. He served in the Marine Corps in WW II, serving in Tinian, Okinawa, and Saipan, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart.

Bob married Rosemary Lenaghan in 1952 and had six children:  Robin, Mark, Kevin, Sarah, Duffy and Lucy.  After getting out of college, Bob entered the construction business, but working seven days a week was not conducive to raising a family, so he joined his father and brother in the automobile business in 1954.  In 1970 Bob and Jack bought out their father when he retired. In 1972 Jack decided to move to Tucson AZ, so Bob bought out his interest in the business.  In 1977 the dealership moved to new facilities at 103^rd and Wornall and Cunningham Automotive Group was born. They sold Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Volkswagen and Audi cars and trucks.

Bob was chairman of the Union Relations Committee of the KC Motor Car Dealers Association, past president of the Greater KC Motor Car Deals Association, and past president of the Missouri Automotive Dealers Association.  He was recognized in 1980 with the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award.  He was a beloved owner to many of the past employees who still hold “Managers Meetings” to get together and reminisce the golden years of the car business.

Bob believed in giving back, not only in Military service, but Service to Others. He was involved in Civic endeavors, Scouting, and those of the Catholic Church.  In no particular order he served on the following:  the Mayor’s committee of the Jaycees, Rotary Club, Midwest Children’s, Immacolata Manor, and St. Joseph’s Hospital financial board.

At Rockhurst he served as past chair of the Board of Regents. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society.  And in 1994 he was named as Alumnus of the Year at Rockhurst.

Bob’s scouting career began in 1961 when his sons entered the scouting program. He earned the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Silver Buffalo Awards. He was a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, Woodbadge member and became Chieftain of the Tribe of Mic-0-Say in 1979. Bob served on multiple committees in scouting from local, regional as well as the Boy Scouts National Board. He also chaired the National Committee on Catholic Scouting for many years.

The Catholic Church was extremely important to Bob. He was a member over the years at St. Elizabeth’s, St. Thomas More, Nativity, St. Ann (Naples FL) and Cure of Ars.  He made the Cursillo in the 60’s, which had a lasting impact on his faith formation.  He was a minister of the Eucharist for many years at his different parishes. He was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was active in the Serra Club to increase vocations.  In his later years he became the go-to person to repair rosaries for many parishes around town.  He also made crucifixes from fallen limbs he found on his walks, which he happily shared with many people.

It would be remiss not to mention Bob’s love of golf.  Bob played at Blue Hills Country Club for many years and later Iron Horse and Overland Park. His golf career included multiple holes in one (the number varies by memories), three golf trips to Scotland, and shooting his age at 83.

Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosemary, his daughter Lucy and his parents, John and Dorothy Cunningham; as well as his siblings, Jack Cunningham and Sue Cunningham Blair.  He will be missed by his wife Shirl and her children; Kelly, Chris, Mitch and Lori.  He will also be missed by his sister Anne Cunningham McGee, his sister-in-laws Maureen Lenaghan Bassing and Margaret Lenaghan Treanor. He will be terribly missed by his children: Robin (Mary Frances), Mark, Kevin (Sheri), Sarah (John), Duffy, as well as the grands:  Andrew (Morgan) Alissa, Jordan (Patti), Seth, Daniel, Dillon (Nicole), Maggie, Christopher and Ashley.  Also the great-grands: Camden, Eloise “Lulu”, Marin, Teagen and Winslow plus his many nieces and nephews and friends.

Services will be held Wednesday, November 14^th at Cure of Ars Catholic Church at 9401 Mission Road in Leawood, KS. Visitation will be at 10 AM, Rosary at 10:30 AM and Funeral mass at 11 AM with a reception to immediately follow.  The burial with Military Honors will take place at 2 PM, Calvary Cemetery, KCMO.  Donation suggestion is the Bishop Sullivan Center, 6435 Truman Road KCMO 64126.