Philip Funk

Philip John “Skip” Funk, 82, of Avoca, IA, passed away surrounded by family on April 1, 2026 at Azria Health Rose Vista in Woodbine, IA. He was known as Phil to his friends in Nebraska and Iowa but lovingly known as Skip or Uncle Skip to his family and friends in Wisconsin. It is impossible to describe in words the enormous heart and soul God bestowed on this man, but here is a small glimpse. He was a man who valued relationships with family, satisfaction in a job well done, and proudly supported service to the community and nation.

Phil was born in Racine, WI on November 28, 1943 to George and Elizabeth (Kah) Funk. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Caledonia, WI. He attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School and Horlick (orthopedic) High School in Racine, WI. Phil contracted polio in 1950 at the age of seven and was determined to overcome it without dependence on braces or crutches, which he did. He never saw himself as disabled and he was not afraid to prove it. His brothers would say he worked four times harder and longer than everyone else just to prove he could and would get offended if they offered to help him. In spite of multiple surgeries and treatments, he never complained even to his last day.

He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Lou (Crouch) on May 28, 1966 in Racine, WI. Phil earned his most prized title of dad as the young couple was blessed with five children. The family moved to Nebraska in 1972. They opened their home to foster kids for over 20 years. Two foster kids were adopted and several others maintained relationships with the family for decades. There were many other kids from the community as well as friends of his children who called him “Pops” or “Dad.”

Phil spent many polio-recovery hours in his youth learning machinist skills from his grandfather, John Kah, when he was unable to attend school. This was the beginning of a long career as an industrial engineer and electrician. He was most proud of a tool he designed at Leverage Tools Inc. that was used by NASA. He also designed robotic welders and precision hydraulic manufacturing systems throughout his extensive career. Phil worked for Filter Specialists, Inc (FSI) in Grand Island, NE as an industrial maintenance manager for 36 years. When it came to repairing things, it seemed there was nothing he could not fix. If he did not know how, he would get out his books and look it up. There was no problem unsolvable to Phil. His family would say, “If Dad can’t fix it, it ain’t broke.” Over the years, he received frequent phone calls from his kids who live all over the country to get advice and guidance on any given home improvement project and he was always happy to help. Phil and Lou moved to Avoca, IA in 2007 after retirement.

Phil instilled that same “can do” attitude and passion in his children. He taught the values of hard work, trying, and not giving up when something was challenging. The word “can’t” did not exist but rather try, look it up, learn, try again, and stick with it until you figure it out. Those lessons nurtured all of his children to be successful adults which gave him immense joy.

Phil was also very passionate about service and was a proud patriot. His only life regret was that polio prevented him from serving in the military, which was a family legacy as his father, uncle, and brothers served our country. Phil served his local community as a devoted member of the Glenvil Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years. His first responder

achievements included EMT, fire fighter, trained weather spotter, assistant fire chief, and Clay County Civil Defense. He was profoundly fulfilled by his accomplishments and service to others in the community. Phil was elated that ten of his children and grandchildren carried on the family tradition of military service as well as two with careers in law enforcement. He was especially proud of his son Bill, who earned the prestigious US Army Edmund L. Gruber Award (field artillery) for taking the initiative to modify vehicles to protect soldiers from IEDs in Iraq. When Bill was asked by a general where he learned to do that, he proudly said, “from my dad.”

Phil was very active and always stayed busy. He enjoyed gardening and had a passion for woodworking. He loved teaching others woodworking, electrical, and other maintenance skills. When he was not working on a project, he could be found camping and fishing every chance he got. The only time he spent resting on the couch was during a NASCAR race. Phil loved music. He taught himself to play guitar as a means of rehabilitating his polio-affected hand and encouraged the musical talent of others in the family. He loved to sing classic country songs at karaoke and listen to his kids and grandkids play instruments and sing.

Phil, “Skip” Funk was a humble, kind, gentle, driven man who understood the meaning of hardship and blessings and it was reflected in the way he lived his life. He always had a smile and a big, genuine hug for anyone who needed it. Above all, Phil’s greatest joy was his family. He left an imprint on each of them, including his great grandchildren, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents, George and Elizabeth Funk; his sisters, Joyce Funk, Shirley (Brinkmann) Rottmann, and Charlene (Brinkmann) Passmore; his brothers, Kenneth Funk, Paul Funk, and Ronald Brinkmann; his nephew, Jonathan Gross; and his great-grandson, Kolton Albers.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Lou; his children Mike (Denise) McNeal of Ferndale, WA; Kevin (Anne) Hecke of Glenvil, NE; Mary (John) Walaszek of Jackson, NJ; Karen (Phillip) Rodriguez of Avoca, IA; William (Dawn) Funk of North Augusta, SC; Suesan (Wade) Bott of Ferndale, WA; Jason (Kim) Funk of Hastings, NE; his grandchildren, Tim (Sydney) Hecke of Geneva, NE; Sarah (Tom) Byrne of Blair, NE; Amanda Albers of Hastings, NE; Ephraim Hintz of Venice, CA; Steven (Holly) Walaszek of Oxnard, CA; Eric (Dryden) Funk of Ogden, IA; Amber (Trey) Snyder of North Platte, NE; John Philip “JP” Walaszek of Jackson, NJ; Preston (Leah Shohat) Scott of Tulsa, OK; Deanna Walaszek of Freehold, NJ; Justin Funk of Avoca, IA; Jason (Kiersten Pape) Funk of Hastings, NE; William Cousineau of Ferndale, WA; Justin Matlock of North Augusta, SC; 17 great-grandchildren, sister Georgeanne (Bob) Gross of Waukesha, WI; sister-in-law Karen Funk of Adams, WI; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.