Russell D. Cunningham, 81, of rural Nickerson, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at Shalimar Gardens Memory Unit.

The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Salem Lutheran Church of Fontanelle. Interment will be in the Kennard Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Ludvigsen Mortuary, Fremont, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Russell D. Cunningham was born Oct. 3, 1928, in Kennard, to William and Matilda (Carlsen) Cunningham. He moved with his family in 1942 to Fontanelle.

He was baptized in the church in Kennard, and confirmed in Salem Lutheran Church of Fontanelle. He was a 1945 graduate of Arlington High School.

He served in the United States Air Force in the Security Police Unit. At one time, his duties included guarding the atomic bombs as they were transferred from one location to another.

Following four years of education at the Kansas City Art Institute, he returned to the farm in the Fontanelle area and has remained there.

He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church of Fontanelle where he had served several times on the church council. He had been very active in the choir. He enjoyed decorating the church for the Christmas season.

He had also served on the Board of Directors of the Nickerson Farmers Union.

He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Luvern and Lila Cunningham of New Albany, Ohio; and five nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Rolland Cunningham.

Memorials are suggested to the Salem Lutheran Church of Fontanelle Sunday School Building Fund.