Eldon Funke

ELDON R. FUNKE

Monticello

During the Advent of his final Christmas season, Eldon R. Funke received his greatest-ever gift with a call home from the worn base paths and faded chalk lines of this earthly ball field to the majestic and

glorious diamond of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Eldon passed through death on Nov. 30, 2015, following a late final rally in the company of loving and devoted family members at UnityPoint Health – Jones Regional Medical Center, Anamosa. He was 81.

A visitation with family present will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Kramer Funeral Home, 700 Oak St., Monticello, with a prayer vigil beginning at 2 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Monticello, at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, with the Rev. Paul Baldwin officiating. A visitation also will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. before Mass. Burial will be at St. Paul's Cemetery in Worthington. Military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 137.

The son of Lawrence H. and Emma (Krogmann) Funke, "Eldie" was born Nov. 8, 1934, the ninth of his parents' 10 children, and grew up on the family farm north of Worthington.

Eldon attended St. Paul's schools in Worthington, and, following his high school graduation, joined the U.S. Army. He proudly served from 1956 until 1958, which included deployments at military bases located in Germany.

The Army taught Eldon many life lessons, such as cooking in large batches to feed hundreds of hungry soldiers. However, patience was never an enlisted virtue as he couldn't wait to marry the love of his life, Kay Ann Greiner, only weeks following his military discharge. The couple was united in marriage on June 25, 1958, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Worthington.

Together, they began their life on their farm in rural Hopkinton – for decades managing a dairy operation. Eldon also enjoyed a 28-year career with Georgia-Pacific Corporation at its former location in Monticello, where the couple made their home for nearly 30 years.

An avid baseball player as a youth, Eldon routinely bore the "tools of ignorance" – happily positioned behind the plate as a catcher – a role for which he also coached and mentored his sons.

For many years, Eldon was active as both player and tournament director for Worthington semi-pro baseball. He was instrumental in helping to resurrect the dormant Worthington youth baseball program in the mid-1970s. Eldon served as a passionate fundraiser and coach for Little League, Babe Ruth and Junior Legion baseball leagues in Worthington and later became a coach within the Monticello youth baseball program.

He was a past member of the Monticello Men's Choir and Monticello Lions Club.

An inspired fan of the Boston Red Sox, Eldon was thrilled with the BoSox' recent World Series titles.

A committed family man, Eldon enjoyed spending time with Kay, forming a dedicated fan club at their grand-children's sporting events, and many other activities. He also enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the "rules of the road" with his supervised golf cart driver's education.

He was a longtime member of St. Paul's Parish, Worthington, and Sacred Heart Parish, Monticello.

In addition to his wife, those left to honor Eldon are five children, Kevin (Gayle) Funke of Hopkinton, Kathy (Brian) Evans of West Des Moines, Kurt (Peggy) Funke of Newton, Ken (Margaret) Funke of Dubuque and Kraig (Jody Honkomp) Funke of Dyersville; 12 grandchildren, Blake, Allie and Carter Funke, Rebecca (Thomas) Kedley, Drew Evans and Claire, Nolan (Anne), Nathan, Ellen, Owen, Ryan (Sherrill Jordan) and Alex Funke; a great-grandchild, Peter Funke; a brother, Marvin (RoseLee) Funke of Dyersville; two sisters, Lucille Kelchen of Cascade and Norma Link of Dyersville; five sisters-in-law, Kathleen Funke and Marie Steinlage of Worthington, Helen (Blondi) Lindauer of Cascade, Nancy (Jack) Tegeler of Dubuque and Sally (Bob) Farmer of Hopkinton; dozens of nieces and nephews; and special friends Whitaker Ingles, Marcus and Cadence Cardona and Bill, Jay and Nic Ahlrichs.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Gilbert, Donald and LeVern "Bud" Funke; his sisters, Irma Hess, Deloras Sabers and Grace Link; brothers-in-law, Clarence Sabers, Ray Hess, Gib Link, John Greiner, Joe Kelchen, Lawrence Link and Ron Kavars; and sisters-in-law, Mary Gavin and Irene Funke.