Ruben Funk

Ruben David Funk passed away peacefully into God’s loving care on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at the age of 84 at the Herbert & District Integrated Healthcare Facility, Herbert, SK. He was born January 9, 1937 in Herbert - the first born of Jacob & Henrietta (Schellenberg) Funk. His family lived on a farm in the Roland district until he was 7 years old. They then moved to a farm north of Gouldtown where he attended Big Coulee School.

After his school years he worked for the local PFRA as a land surveyor before he went to BC, where he found work on Queen Charlotte Island clearing trees. He returned to Saskatchewan to help his family with the farm as his dad was unwell.

On December 18, 1956 Ruben married his classmate, Mary Harder, in Herbert at the age of 19. They were baptized in spring after their marriage. At this time, they took over the family farm and would continue to farm and raise their family for many years.

His dreams also included living off the grid and being totally self-sufficient, so he leased a parcel of land in northern BC. After several trips and much hard work, he soon realized he had to make a decision — he chose to stay on the homestead in Saskatchewan.

Ruben was quiet, gentle and humble, a man of integrity. He was a jack of all trades, able to view anything that was broken as a challenge rather than a problem. Because of this attitude, he was able to fix pretty much anything that came his way. He built their family farm house, barn, and quonset with his own two hands and without hiring anything out or borrowing any money. He worked hard, sometimes too hard, but it didn’t feel like work to him because farming was his passion. He was a problem solver, always creating new inventions on the farm.

He loved instrumental and gospel music and taught himself to play guitar and banjo at a young age. Ruben also enjoyed sports, especially watching hockey and baseball games.

Children always had a special place in his heart. He loved watching his children and grandchildren grow, taking them for rides on the tractor and playing card games with them. Though his memory started to fade as Alzheimer’s took over, his gentle, quiet nature continued to shine through along with the big smile he would give to those who came to visit him in the Nursing Home.

Ruben is survived by his loving wife, Mary, of 64 years; his daughters Joanne (Ron) Schultz and Debrah (David) Rupertus; his sons, Terry Funk and David (Tracy) Funk; his grandchildren, Thera (Travis), Eric (Carmen), Jeff (Jessica), Sam, Dustin, Storm, Sheyenne, Tristin, Kennedy, Griffin, Cohen, and Danon; his great-grandchildren, Abigail, Seth, Danica, Luke, and Alyssa; his sisters, Lenora Conn, Alfreda Anne Sardison, Tillie (Don) Reimer, and Norma Phyllis (Ross) Reimer; his sister-in-law, Dianne Funk, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruben was predeceased by his parents, Jacob & Henrietta Funk; his sister, Linda Funk, in 1950; his brother, Alvin Funk, in 1997; and by his brother-in-law, Earl Conn.

The Funeral Service for Ruben Funk was held on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 2:00 pm from Living Faith Fellowship Church, Herbert, SK with Pastor Lincoln Vellacott officiating. “He Leadeth Me,” “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” and “When We All Get to Heaven” were sung by the congregation, with Donovan Epp serving as pianist. Special music was brought by Donovan Epp. Tributes were given by Ruben’s grandchildren. The ushers in the church were Isaac Harder and Randall Fast.

The Private Family Interment Service was held prior to the Funeral Service from the Gouldtown Cemetery, Gouldtown, SK with Eric Schultz, Jeff Schultz, Samuel Rupertus, Dustin Rupertus, Griffin Funk, Cohen Funk, Danon Funk, and Tristin Funk serving as Pallbearers. The Honorary Pallbearers were Thera Winfrey, Kennedy Funk, Storm Dafoe, and Sheyenne Funk.

In memory of Ruben Funk, donations made to Gideons International – Shareword Global (Box 3619, Guelph, ON, N1H 7A2) would be appreciated by the family. 

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