Michael Cunningham
April 16, 1954 – August 8, 2024
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home, 917 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. Friends may call on the family one hour prior to the service, beginning at 12:00 p.m. noon. Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Association or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in c/o the funeral home.
Obituary
Age 70, of Kalamazoo, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024. Mort was born in Kalamazoo on April 16, 1954, the son of Michael J. and Jeanette “Jean” Cunningham. On June 8, 2003, he married Debra Dowling, who survives him. He was a graduate of Parchment High School. Mort worked at L.C. Howard for over 30 years as a certified Master Diesel Mechanic. He retired in 2014. He was also employed at M.K. Trucking and Tony and Mike’s Repair Shop. He was a collector of truck parts and tools. He loved repairing diesel engines and all things mechanical. Mort also loved family time which always seemed to include cleaning up his messes. He was a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, the American Truck Historical Society, and Kazoo Makerspace. Besides his wife, Mort is survived by his children, Amber Roberts, Angela Axe, Andrew Axe; grandchildren, Gavyn, Layla, Donte, Dakota, Dylan, Joshua and Jayden; great granddaughters, Leah Rose, and Elliana; mother, Jean Cunningham; sister, Patricia (Alan) Wong; nephews, Alan and Mark; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his father and step-daughter, Amber.
I love you and will miss you beyond belief. You drove me nuts at times but you were also a whole lot of fun and always full of surprises.
Uncle Mike – I met you some 30 yrs. ago as you were pounding on the table at the bar yelling Come on, Come on, Come on!!! it was so annoying!! Then I got to know you, then you married my aunt and became family… You were an incredible man, so generous, so funny, so real. I loved you. Godspeed. You were loved by all. Many toasts will be in your name. <3
I met you many years ago, and I have often wondered if we would have made it back then? Life had different plans for both of us so we went our separate ways. 20 years later our paths cross again. This time around you became persistent and I tried to run but you just became more persistent. I gave up and let you win. I never understood why you wanted to get involved with someone that had 3 kids and a grandson. You assured me that you wanted me more than anything in life. We made a great team Ollie, you are my everything. Until we meet again, I love you forever and always.
First, I want to give my deepest sympathies to Mike’s family. We will forever be classmates from PHS Class of ‘73. You will be fondly remembered and very missed at class reunions.
Love ya Mort. You were a very unique man with a quirky sense of humor that we all enjoyed.