Clarence Lester Funk's Obituary
On May 31, 2011 Clarence Lester Funk 89 passed away in Lehi, Utah. He was residing at Greenwood Manor where he had lived since May of 2007. He loved many people there and enjoyed playing bingo and complaining about exercise. He was born May 26, 1922 in Harrison County, Indiana to Harry Edward Funk died in 1974 and Myrta Viola Gunterman Funk died in 1960. He was also preceded in death by his two older brothers. James Oscar Funk 1917-1992 and Kenneth Edward Funk 1919-1991. Clarence graduated from Laconia High School in 1940 and was thrilled to be able to go back to the school reunion earlier in May of this year and see a prior classmate and some dear relatives who had attended at Laconia.
Clarence began work at Allis-Chalmers in La Porte, Indiana before serving in the US Army Air Corps during World War II 1942-1946. He served as a navigator and air plane mechanic in the Pacific Theater with the 398th Bomb Squadron. After the war he returned to his job in La Porte and on March 6, 1948 married Violet Cureton from Louisville, Kentucky. Together they had two children Opal Lynn Funk Yule and David Lester Funk. Opal married Warren Rudolph Yule and had 5 children: Benjamin, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Matthew and Luke who have had 9 children. David married Jean Ruth Porches Funk and they had 7 children: Jennifer, Jonathan, Peter, Timothy, Mark, James JEF, and Mary who have had 7 children. This makes a total of 16 great grandchildren. Violet preceded Clarence in death, dying on 14 February 1998. Both children and all grandchildren and great grandchildren are still living. While in La Porte, in 1956 he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remained active until his death.
Clarence continued working as an inspector at Allis Chalmers until right before the plant in La Porte closed. He took early retirement and continued to live in La Porte until 1988 when Clarence and Violet moved to Scappoose, Oregon. They enjoyed the northwest and Clarence especially enjoyed working at the Scappoose Senior Center helping with the gleaning and bread collections. Clarence lost most of his sight while in Scappoose and later when his wife passed away he said he had gone blind again because Violet was his second set of eyes. He continued to live by himself in Scappoose and work at the Senior Center until he left in May 2007 to move to Lehi, Utah to live in Greenwood Manor.
While at Greenwood he was able to make great friends both among the residents and among the workers. He always had a joke to tell and no one ever knew if he was telling a tale or his story was really true, especially when he talked about fishing trips or doctor?s instructions not to exercise. He will be missed but will be glad to see prior friends that have passed and will look forward to seeing everyone on the other side.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the Wing Mortuary in Lehi, Utah from 1-3 pm and there will be a gravesite service held at Bethany Memorial Cemetery in Warren, Oregon on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 10 am where he will be buried next to his wife.
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