Goldie (Golda) Emily Funk, age 85 years, of Swift Current, SK, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2008, at the Prairie Pioneers Lodge, Swift Current, SK. She was born to Gerhard and Agatha Klassen (Heidebrecht) at Beaver Flat, SK on March 22, 1923. Goldie was raised in a strong Christian home. The family read the Bible and prayed every evening after supper. Turnhill Mennonite Brethren Church was the focal point where her father became the church leader and her mother baked buns and pies for church celebrations. Goldie sang alto in the church choir. She accepted Christ as her Saviour as a young girl and was baptized at Abe Wiebe’s dam. She memorized 500 verses from the Gospel of John during one summer. Goldie’s education included grade 8 from Beaver Flat School where she often brought her guitar to school by horse and studied music and art. She graduated from Millar Memorial Bible Institute, Pambrun, SK, with a 3 year diploma in Bible. Goldie’s work experience reveals her love of Church and home. As a young woman she did day work for several families on the farm and in Swift Current. She was a teacher for Crusade for Christ and the Canadian Sunday School Mission for children in northern Saskatchewan. She picked apples and tomatoes in Kelowna BC, one summer just after the 2nd World War. In 1974, she began work as a cook at Pacific 66 Restaurant and later at Carol’s Lunch in Swift Current. She retired from work in 1988. Goldie Klassen married Chester Funk, the love of her life, on August 3, 1947, at Bethania (Turnhill) Mennonite Brethren Church. They were married almost 54 years. Chester passed away on July 2, 2001. They had 5 children and farmed until 1974 in the Hovdestad School District. The highlights of Goldie’s family life were: taking the family to Church and Sunday School, taking the children to West Bank Bible Camp, having family devotions at breakfast and at bedtime, giving her children piano, violin, and singing lessons, encouraging her family to do their best in school and work, and playing music together as a family in many churches and community events. Goldie was a very active member in the Turnhill Church and served as church pianist, Sunday School teacher, Ladies in Mission president, singing duets with Chester, and playing accordion in the family orchestra. Goldie was a very gifted person. She played several music instruments - guitar, piano, accordion, violin, organ and sang. She knew how to knit, crochet, embroider and sewed many outfits of clothes for herself and her family. She loved to garden, can fruit, freeze vegetables, butcher chickens, and cook unforgettable meals. When Goldie and Chester sold the farm in 1974, she enjoyed her dream house at 409 - 15th NE, Swift Current very much. She had waited long to live in this house. She moved out of it in June, 2002, with great reluctance. Her last years were spent living in the Bentley with friends and neighbors. Then she moved into the Prairie Pioneers Lodge with health issues. She missed Chester immensely. She was a member of the Bridgeway Community Church. Our beloved mother is survived by her children, Faith (Peter Peters), Gilmour (Hannah Fehr), Phyllis (Leroy Schmidt), Janice (Jeff Fast), Cyndy (Phil Willms); her 9 grandchildren, Arlen Wiebe and wife, Heather: Adam and Ryan Schmidt: Joel, Aron, Naomi and Lucas Fast: Megan and Ashley Willms; and by a great-grandchild, Meredith Wiebe. We will miss you and think of you often. Thank-you for everything you have done for us! The Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 1:00 pm from the Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Cliff Janzen officiating. The pianist was Leanne McConnell. Scripture was read by Adam Schmidt & Aron Fast from Psalm 46:1-3, Romans 8:35-39 & John 11:25-26. “When We All Get to Heaven”, “Take My Life and Let It Be” and “God Be With You” were sung by the congregation under the direction of Menno Martens. Special music was provided by Janice Fast & Faith Peters on the violin and piano, Pete & Leona Braun and Jake & Frieda Braun singing, “Precious Savior”, “My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast” and “At Sundown”, and on CD by the Oakridge boys, “God Will Take Care of You”. The obituary was read by Faith Peters with tributes shared by Janice Fast, Cyndy Willms & Joel Fast. The Interment was held at the Turnhill Cemetery, Beaver Flat, SK with the following serving as pallbearers, Phil Willms, LeRoy Schmidt, Aron Fast, Lucas Fast, Adam Schmidt and Ryan Schmidt. In memory of Goldie, donations made to the Gideons International would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. |
