Eva Funk
Obituary
Surrounded by the love of her family, our mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, auntie, and friend, Eva Unrau Funk, was called home to be with her Lord Jesus on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Menno Home in Grunthal, MB, at the age of 97.
Today, we say goodbye with tears, but also with gratitude for the loving legacy Eva leaves her family. Eva will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Anne Krahn; her son Peter (Susanne) Funk; her son John (Anita) Funk; her daughter Mary (Jerry) Kehler; her son Jim (Rose) Funk; and her son Glenn (Naomi) Funk; one sister, Mary Wiens; 22 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; 35 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Sara, Helen, and Agatha (Bert Kehler); and brother-in-law Dick (Mary) Dyck.
She was predeceased by her parents, Dietrich and Margaret Kehler; her husband, Peter; her son, Jake; daughter-in-law Betty; son-in-law Victor; granddaughter Teresa; grandson Doug; great-great- granddaughter Aria; sisters Betty, Anne, and Tina; and brother Peter.
Eva was born on May 17, 1929, in the Rural Municipality of Montcalm to Dietrich and Margaret (Kehler) Unrau.
Eva’s earliest memory was of moving from Altona to Roseau River in 1933 when she was four years old. Her family journeyed with all their belongings in a wagon pulled by two horses. She remembered sleeping on a Schlop bench in the kitchen with her sister Annie and attending Plankey Plain School in Stuartburn, travelling to school by sleigh pulled by their dog. Eva worked hard from an early age to help support her family. She became skilled at milking cows, feeding cattle, hoeing beets, digging Seneca roots, butchering pigs, chickens, and cattle, as well as cooking, baking, and pickling. In addition, to make ends meet, Eva and her brother Peter helped make firewood to sell.
Later, when her family moved to Barkfield, Eva met and married the love of her life, Peter J. B. Funk, in 1948. They lived in Barkfield for most of their marriage and attended Weidenfeld Church near their acreage. Eva raised seven children of her own and, because of her caring heart, also welcomed several boarders into their home.
Eva loved life and was known for her delicious cooking, remarkable hospitality, and generosity in sharing her food not only with her family but also with neighbours. The strong work ethic she learned at a young age enabled her to plant three huge gardens and butcher hundreds of chickens for sale in a single day, all while consistently providing countless homemade meals for her growing family and anyone who dropped in. She also occasionally catered weddings and, amazingly, still found time to volunteer with MCC.
Nevertheless, life was not always easy for Eva. She experienced the loss of precious family members who passed far too soon, endured the devastation of losing her home to fire, and faced several health challenges, including breast cancer. Through it all, however, she leaves a legacy of faith, hope, love, and a never-give-up attitude.
Eva had an enduring faith in her Lord and Saviour. Her unselfish service to her family was her way of showing love. Her greatest prayer was that each member of her family would accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. She longed to see everyone together again in heaven.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff at the Menno Home for their dedicated and loving care. We could not have asked for a kinder or more knowledgeable team to care for our mom and grandma.
We would also like to express our gratitude to Birchwood Funeral Home for taking care of the arrangements.
The funeral service for Eva will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with viewing one hour prior to the service.
