Hillsboro - LaVern Funk, 98, died August 8, 2020 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. Celebration of Life service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August, 12, 2020 at The Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Interment 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at The Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church cemetery. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral Bulletin
LaVern Funk was born August 22nd, 1921, to Adolph and Anna (Enns) Funk in Wolf Point, Montana. He was the oldest of four brothers and three sisters. Horseshoes and baseball were some of the favorite games the family played together. We started country school where there were 32 students and one teacher. Our folks took us to school every day. The cold, snowy winter required us to go by sled and horses the four miles to school. Dad made a cab on the sled to protect us from the extreme cold. He even had a small coal-burning stove to help keep us warm. Temperatures go to zero and below during the winter months. During these long cold evenings, many games were played and homework was done.
Our folks moved to Kansas so we could attend high school. Dad bought musical instruments so we could teach ourselves to play. I learned to play violin, and played in the high school orchestra. I also enjoyed shop and woodworking, making a number of cedar chests and other furniture.
Daily devotions were important to our family. Sunday was a day we went to church and Sunday school. It was during a revival meeting that I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I was baptized in a pond west of Hillsboro, and I became a member of the Hillsboro M.B. Church. I sang in the choir and men’s chorus, and ushered for many years, as well as being on other committees.
After I graduated from high school I started working for farmers. I denied the Farm Deferment and spent 15 months at Hill City, South Dakota working on a government Dam. I later transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska working with soil conservation, building terraces for farmers. It was during this time that I became acquainted with Theodore Epp’s Back to the Bible radio broadcast, which I have helped support ever since.
After returning to Kansas I met Maxine Loewen at church. We were married in 1951 at the Ebenfeld M.B. Church. Together we had four children. Maxine passed away in 1982, losing her battle with cancer. I farmed and worked for Bartel house moving. I also volunteered many times with Mennonite Disaster Service after severe storms.
I met and married Joyce Seibel in 1984. She quickly became a second mom to my children. We enjoyed the many trips and bus tours that we took over the years. We moved into Hillsboro from the farm in 2000. LaVern still enjoyed helping on the farm, even driving tractor until he was 96.
LaVern was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Maxine, son Richard, three brothers, and two sisters.
LaVern is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Mary Leal (Eric), daughter-in-law Dorothy Funk (Richard), daughter Janet Mitzner (Ron), son Russell, nine grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Viola Schultz (John), and many nieces and nephews.