Joseph David Funk

Born on a farm in Panama, Iowa to Lawrence and Barbara Funk. Raised in Portsmouth, IA with 7 siblings. Graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1947. Worked for the Milwaukee Railroad and farmed with his parents until serving in the Army during the Korean War. He married the love of his life, Carol Klingston, on 7/2/55 in Boone, IA, and was married for 56 wonderful years. He Attended Creighton Univ. (Omaha, NE) and graduated from Iowa State in 1957 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After accepting a job with Douglas Aircraft Corp, they piled into their new ’57 Pontiac hardtop and moved to El Segundo, CA and then to Torrance, CA. After the birth of their 3 sons (Pat, Tim and Mike), they moved to Citrus Heights, CA which he called home for the rest of his life. In 1970, when the aerospace program was cancelled, he returned to school and earned a teaching credential from Chapman College. He taught 7th grade Math for 20 years at Louis Pasteur School in Orangevale, CA until retirement in 1991.

Joe was an active member of SIRS and Holy Family Catholic Church. He enjoyed golfing, RV’ing, genealogy, spending time with his family, sports, coaching, umpiring, watching westerns, playing cards, dancing, and tinkering in his garage (“Grandpa can fix anything!”).

Joe was a wonderful father to his children, Patrick (Karel), Timothy (Jennifer) and Michael (Lori), a loving and fun Grandpa/Papa to Ryan (Allison), Nichole (Brett), Megan, Joseph, Bradley, Branden, and a doting Great-Grandfather to Joseph Ryan.

Survived by his wife Carol, brothers Alfred and Frank (Judy), sister Cecelia Wegner and cousin, Nic Windeshausen. Special thanks to his loving caretaker, Lawna Murray.

Friends are invited to attend a Rosary service on Monday, 1/16/12, at 7:00 pm (visitation at 6:00) at Reichert’s Funeral Home, 7320 Auburn Blvd, C.H. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, 1/17/12, at Holy Family Catholic Church at 7817 Old Auburn Rd, C.H. A private family burial will take place at the National Cemetery in Dixon, CA.