Jeffrey Wade “Spanky” Cunningham
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Jeffrey Wade “Spanky” Cunningham, 62, Lee’s Summit, Missouri passed away October 12, 2021. Friends may visit with the family Saturday, November 6th, 2021 from 10:00 AM – 11:oo followed by a celebration of his life, 11:00 AM at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, Missouri. A live stream link: Jeff Cunningham LIVE STREAM LINK In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the C 4 Foundation http://www.c4foundation.org
Spanky was born July 27, 1959 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was employed by Emery Sapp & Sons.
Spanky, generous to a fault, will be remembered as a loving, kind and very devoted son, brother and uncle. He loved his work, boating, trucks and motorcycles.
He’s preceded in death by; father, Aubrey Wade Cunningham on June 10, 1993 and his grandparents. Survivors include: mother, Margaret Cunningham, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; sister & brother in law, Karen “Kate” & Bill Carinder, Coronado, California; niece, Aubrie Ferguson and her husband, Steve, Naperville, Illinois; nephew, Brent Carinder and his wife, Katie, Imperial Beach, California; great-nephews; Knox, Bennett and Smith Ferguson and William “Billy” Carinder and Spanky’s girlfriend and love of his life, Barb Schlapia, Raytown, Missouri.
Oh, Kate , that breaks my heart. He was one of a kind. I only wish we had spent more time together..Praying for your mom and all of you. Please let us know about the Celebration of Life. We love you guys.
Our sincere sympathy to you Kate, Bill and kids. Along with special thoughts and prayers for your mother and loving partner, Barb.
I know you are lost in sorrow at the untimely tragedy, never expecting this as part of the plan of life.
May this be a holy message for all that loved him and bring consolation to you all.
Love, friendship, Woody, Paula
Spanky,
I’ll miss you buddy. We had some times together. Riding around in your big Red truck, baling hay, Cruising Blueridge Blvd drag racing. Hanging out at the tire store telling the guy that needed four new tires tge Compressor was broke then fixing the pretty girls flat for free. You were one of a kind, Most all my best childhood memories involved you in some way. Rest in peace friend you were one of a kind….
After my dad passed the blow was lessened ever so much because Spanky was around to share his experience recovering from that same loss years earlier. I liked him from the first minute I met him and we always had fun together. He was funny, best stories you could ever hear, and just all around agreeable. Loved you like family old buddy, so glad to know you, have a wonderful peaceful rest now.
So very sorry to read of Spanky’s passing. He was a mainstay at my house while my kids were growing up My kids went all thru school with him. I have many sweet memories of him and my boys. My husband gave him the nickname “Spanky”. RIP Jeff.
Spank was a good friend for a long time . We shared some adventurous times . A real loss for his friend s and his family !??
Spanky, loved adventure and fun when we were young, and his jet boat roaring wide open, and red truck were part of his persona, as we camped and swam at Lake Pomme de Terre, long before he became a captain cruising party cove and elsewhere at Lake of the Ozarks. Some people would under estimate Spanky, and I think he kind of liked to surprise them when the moment suited him best. Rest in Peace old friend.
I never had the opportunity to know my cousin but I have no doubt he was very much loved. We are so sorry for you Margaret, your daughter Kate and family’s loss. He will always be missed but his spirit will remain with you, Kate, family and all of his friends.
We are so sorry for you Margaret, your daughter Kate and family. Jeff will always be missed but his spirit will remain with you in loving memories.
From the “Car Wash” days to Joes Barn , Gary’s Submarine and 40 years of trucking. Spanky was one of my closest friends that I talked to almost every day. We all will miss him greatly !!!!
I am broken hearted. I feel like I have lost a second son. Gordy and Spanky were close friends, and Spanky was around for me, until “COVID” kept us apart! Love and prayers are with his family.
Spank, who never knew a stranger, touched many lives and we’re all better for having known him. Marge, Karen, Bill, Brent and Aubrie – you’re in my thoughts and prayers.
Kate, Bill, Aubrie, Brent, Steve and Katie, there are no words to describe this loss. He loved you all so very much. And he was crazy about his nephews. Not only was he my guy, he was my best friend. Such an amazing soul with a heart as big as gold. My family and friends loved him and loved being around him. I am so sorry for our loss, but I am so blessed because he loved me and all of you that he will live in our hearts forever. RIP Jeff, until we meet again.
Our most sincere condolences to Spanky’s family and Barb.
I have a feeling this will be a little long winded but, I can’t help it, that’s how I roll.
We feel like Spanky is a part of our family also and we all have sweet, wonderful memories of him. He and my brother, Gordy, shared the same birthday just one year apart. After Gordy’s unexpected passing in 2007, he didn’t miss a beat, he was totally there for my parents with whatever they needed. What a blessing that was to us all.
He also loved animals, Albert was his best travel bud and so cute. For a couple of years in the mid 80’s, I lived behind the Barn and spank was there a lot. I remember coming home from work on many occasions and finding a note on my door telling me that he and “Jr.” were out taking a drive. He would put “Junior” in the front seat of his truck and drive him all around, stopping to get a cold, icy, creamy treat most every time. Junior was my big, white, beautiful stray Akita I found and I named him “Chewbacca”. Spanky always said he was a “Jr.” not a “Chewy”. He loved that dog!
Spanky was also a good man and a very generous one. We were coming up short of having enough money to send our daughter on a missions trip with our church youth group. She had just returned home from her youth group meeting and explained to us that she needed all of the money by the next day. She all the sudden had an idea and ran upstairs to her room. AnnaLee, much to our surprise, started posting some details about her situation on her Facebook page that night, stating that she needed to raise money to go on this missions trip. Then about two hours later she came bouncing down the stairs yelling, “I did it, I did it!” She is an amazing artist and what had happened was, she had posted several photos of pictures that she had painted and offered them for sale. Well, Spanky saw her postings and purchased “Grandma”. That is the name we gave to her first oil painting she ever painted. He knew I always wanted that painting, but yet he saw her selling it online. He came over the next day with the money and she handed him the painting, he directly handed it back to me and said,….. “Merry Christmas mama. She gets to go on her missions trip and you now have “Grandma” for good, what a perfect ending.” He never batted an eye about the $300.00 he spent to make both of us extremely happy.
I know he could have told that story much better than I did because that’s just what he did. I have never met a better story teller than Spank. He could keep a whole room in suspense for 45 minutes with a single anecdote.
I hope all of you out there that have great stories about Spanky (and I know you do) will write them out and send them in. His family will cherish these stories. I know how much we enjoyed the stories about my brother when he passed away at such a young age. He and Gordy were a lot alike.
Spank, I can remember the last time I saw you and the last time I talked to you on the phone. You will be seriously missed my friend and brother.
I know I speak for my complete family, those still living Mom (Bettye), Jo Marie, myself & Brian, and those of us whom have already passed, Dad (Tom), Ruthie, and Gordy. Rest in peace, Spanky Love, Kelly
My sincere condolences to Spanky’s family and friends. We had great times hanging out with the Amaro’s growing up. Everything everyone has said about you being kind, compassionate, and a wonderful friend is true. I will never forget visiting John Amaro at the newly build St. Joe hospital after he had been kicked by a horse. I came to visit and you and John were over by the window looking down at the landscaping guys, you were chewing and spitting in a cup…yep, you got it, you let that cup go and it landed splashing all over those poor guys. In pain after his surgery, John climbed out of bed to watch you do it! I have a visual to this day. RIP Spank, you will be missed.
I had not visited with Jeff in person for a couple of years, but we would talk on phone 4 or 5 times a year. We met Jeff at the Lucas Oils Boat races 8 years ago and would spend the weekends at the remote campgrounds whenever possible. As others have remarked about Jeff, all friends will severely miss his
stories and “friendship”. Jeff is watching over all of us, now, and I really miss that he has passed. God Bless You and Albert. Camping & all out horsepower
will Not be the same!! Rest in piece…….
What a loss. An incredibly nice guy from the time that I met him in high school! RIP my friend!!
Read so many of these and can only smile, at the man and character he was…. A true friend to All. Rode with him in his Big Rig to Des Moines one night, he got sick of me falling asleep “keeping him awake” and sent me to sleeper…
-RIP-