Arleene Delrae Funcke

Arleene worked at the E. St. Louis Journal from 1949 to 1969 where she “made up the paper” in the Display Advertising Department. She worked at the Meat Cutters Union as office administrator from 1970 to 1976, then at Truck Transport as a bookkeeper in the early 1980s. She was an accomplished musician, serving as church pianist at O’Fallon First United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist, and various other Methodist churches for many years. In addition to singing in numerous church choirs, she sang with the Collinsville Sweet Adelines from 1975 to 1987, and occasionally as the vocalist for Top Brass, a 17-piece big band fronted by her husband George Funcke. She also performed with her daughter Chery in the Most Chordially Yours barbershop quartet at Royal Albert Hall in London in the 1977 Sweet Adelines International competition. In 1987 she joined a senior tap dance group called “Happy Tappers,” and performed with them well into the 1990s.

Arleene is survived by her son, Larry (Ginny) Green of Caseyville; her daughter, Chery Green (David Brown) of University City, MO; granddaughters, Angie (Mike) Barclay of Fairview Heights and Kellie (Kevin) Underwood of Maryville; great-granddaughters Melissa (Evan) Stewart and Melinda (Robbie) Rudy of Mascoutah; great-great-grandchildren Raymond and Maggie Rudy, Eli, Emme, and Elle Stewart; nieces Linda (Steve) Radick and Janet (Bob) Lewis, and nephew Michael (Chrissy) East.

She was preceded in death by her husband George Funcke, her parents Charles and Enid (Watson) Densmore, and a sister Nadeene East.

A visitation will be held at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights, Illinois, on Saturday January 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of of flowers, please send donations to Family Hospice of Belleville, in Arleene's name.