Ruth Funk (nee Wheeler)

Obituary

It is with great sadness, that the family and friends of Ruth Funk announce that she passed away, unexpectedly on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg after a fall the day before in her apartment.

Ruth was born on April 23, 1932 in Flatford, East Bergholt, Suffolk, England, to Kenneth and Mary Wheeler. She grew up in the beautiful Suffolk countryside immortalized by the English painter John Constable.

Ruth entered a 4 year nursing course at St.Bartholomews Hospital in Colchester in May 1950. She was given the designation of Registered Nurse in August 1953.

In September 1963, she emigrated to Canada landing in Toronto. Ruth did not stay long in Toronto and soon was nursing in northern Manitoba at Norway House where Edward Funk was manager of food services for the hospital.

By March of 1968 Ed and Ruth were married and together they spent many years in health care at Norway House and Inuvik, NWT. They had no children together but Ruth adopted Ed’s son Peter, from a previous marriage.

By 1971, they were back in Winnipeg and Ruth continued her nursing while Ed worked for CNIB and after they both retired, they took up some serious overseas travelling to make up for lost time. Ruth was able to visit her family back in England several times.

Unfortunately, Ed died very suddenly on Jan. 28, 2014 and Ruth set about making a new life for herself on her own. Ruth’s friendly personality helped her make many friends where ever she went and she also became very involved in programs at the Portage Ave. Church which she had joined in 2015. She was involved in Alpha programs and was a Chapel Volunteer at the Headingly Correctional Centre.

Ruth was much loved and her sense of humor and hearty laughter as well her delicious baking will be sorely missed by many.

Cremation having taken place as per Ruth’s wishes, a memorial celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Portage Avenue Church at 1420 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB.

Ruth is survived by a son, Peter of Victoria, BC, sister Patricia (Michael) Grainge, sister-in-law Jill Wheeler and her family, niece Lori Penney of Toronto and nephew Christopher Penney of Cornwall, ON and a host of friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Ed and brother John.