Henry Funk
Obituary
Henry Funk, aged 90, of Steinbach, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on June 22, 2025, at his residence in Rest Haven Care Home.
He is survived and will be remembered by his beloved wife, Rita, their children, Naomi (Henry), Terry, Rey (Cindy), Sheldon (Cary), Lowell, and Michelle (Daniel). He is also survived by his grandchildren Shauna, Matt (Diep), Brian, Spencer, Austin, Reagan, and Tarren. He is further survived by two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Sophia, and by his two siblings, Ike and Helen.
He was predeceased by his son, Stephen Michael, on January 3, 1970, his parents, Frank & Gertrude Funk, and 8 siblings.
Henry was born August 26, 1934, in Reinfeld, MB. He began a lifelong journey with education at the Willow Ridge School on the family farm, continued some years via correspondence, and eventually completed his Bible School degree before finishing High School and entering Teacher’s College.
He married his wife, Rita Buhler, on August 6, 1960. They made their home throughout Manitoba on a teaching career journey that spanned from Reinland to Ilford to Hadashville. Together they had seven children, bookending five boys with two girls. They eventually settled in Niverville to provide family stability and educational opportunities for the children, where they remained for 46 years. His greatest family desire was, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Being an avid learner, Henry read voraciously across a variety of genres including his Bible, commentaries, photography, apiary, reflexology, computers, gardening, westerns, and even romance. He was able to translate interest into business as he and Rita operated Northland Photo and Funk’s Honey Farm for nearly three decades while still teaching.
After reluctantly leaving careers behind, Henry and Rita focused on new interests including cultivating that incredible green thumb, harmonizing with the Mitchell Senior’s Choir, and fulfilling the dream of travelling to New Zealand and Australia. They loved Alaska and avidly explored the majority of continental North America via road.
Unfortunately, Henry developed signs of dementia, eventually necessitating the move to Woodhaven 55+ and eventually required further nursing care at Rest Haven. He continued to be incredibly independent and physically active up until his final week, enjoying outings, drives, Bingo, singing, and riding his bike. The Lord blessed him with moments of great clarity in the last week. He understood his medical situation, ran his last race with grace, and prayed for the Lord to take him in his sleep, which was granted peacefully.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel for family and friends. Private family viewing and interment will occur prior.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all those who visited, especially in the last weeks, and to NP Crystal Steele and the entire team at Resthaven Care Home. Those early morning coffees and ongoing chess matches were precious.
