Sheila Cunningham

Funeral Mass for Sheila Cunningham, age 74, of Pierce, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. June 12, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierce. Reverend Pat McLaughlin will be celebrant, with burial at a later date.

Visitation will be June 11, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church, with a 7:00 p.m. Vigil Service.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.

Sheila died Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Faith Health in Norfolk.

Sheila Rae Cunningham, daughter of Glenn and Theresa (Ballweg) Cunningham, was born September 13, 1951, in Spalding, Nebraska. She grew up in the Spalding-Primrose-Albion area, graduating from Spalding High School in 1970. After graduation she lived briefly in Omaha and then several Nebraska towns, including Columbus, Monroe, and Norfolk, before moving to Pierce in 2012.

She worked at various factories, including Sawyer, where she was employed for 19 years, before starting her 25-year career as an over-the-road truck driver. Sheila loved the freedom of being on the open road and the independence it provided her. During the summers, she would sometimes take her sons with her to spend time together and see the country. Particularly memorable trips include the Black Hills and Washington D.C. over the 4th of July. Strong in her Catholic faith, she would often stop in truck stop chapels to pray and worship.

Sheila’s strength was forged by the many hardships she faced, leading her to take anything in life head-on and grab it by the horns. She was a rock for her loved ones, supporting and celebrating her children and grandchildren in everything they did.

Sheila loved nature, flowers, gardening, and wildlife, especially horses. Her happy place was outside. She enjoyed scrapbooking, crocheting, and going to car shows whenever she could. Sheila collected angels, Monopoly games, Christmas Village pieces, and Elvis memorabilia. She went all out for holidays, especially the 4th of July and Christmas.

Sheila is survived by her sons, Roger Cunningham (fiancée Audrey Woolsey) of Capron, Virginia, Dustin Cunningham of Pierce, and Jay (Katy) Podliska of Pierce; grandchildren, Cruz, Justice, Storm, Chance, Kalvin, and Jayme; sisters, Bev Olson, Shirley (Duane) Hanson, and Sandra Munson; numerous great-grandchildren; and her beloved pets.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael Cunningham; granddaughter, Lacy; brothers, Skip, Howard, and Ernie “Bud”; and sisters, Sherry and Carol.

Casual dress is encouraged.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sheila Cunningham, please visit our floral store.