Cel Funk

Cel (Celestine) H. Funk, 76, of Alexandria went to join his parents on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. He passed away peacefully with his daughter and siblings by his side at Grand Arbor Memory Care in Alexandria, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 22, 2022 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment will be held in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.

Celestine Henry Funk was born July 21,1946 in Melrose, Minnesota to Edward and Beatrice Funk. He grew up on a farm in rural New Munich, attended grades 1 through 8 at a one-room school house and high school at Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota. After leaving the seminary, Cel was an alcohol/drug counselor at a Halfway House in Willmar, MN. He then owned and operated the hardware store in New Munich. From there he took a position with the Greenwald State Bank. However, his love for plants, shrubs, and trees of all kinds took him to a job at Colorful Seasons in Alexandria. Here is where his career blossomed and Cel started his landscaping business, "Landscapes". Many families in the area are enjoying their beautiful landscapes that he designed.

Cel was so much fun and he loved to have a beer (or two). He loved to garden, cut wood, and prune shrubs and trees. He was an excellent cook and especially enjoyed grilling chicken and making a good stir-fry. Cel had many good friends and most of all, he always had a ready and charming smile for children: his nieces, nephews, and children of his friends. They all loved him dearly.

Survivors include his daughter, Samantha Rolfes (Ben) of Huntsville, TX; brothers, Art (Kay) of New Munich, Ken of New Munich, Ron (Carol) of Sauk Centre, Fran (Elaine) of Sauk Centre, and Vic (Patty) of Clearwater; sisters, Mary Ann Kammers of Richmond, Dorine (Allen) Ebel of Eau Claire, WI, Rita (Roger) Scherping of St. Joseph, Rene (Tom) Pierskalla of Avon, Kathy (Tom) Ecker of Miltona, and Marlene (Tom) Altendahl of Villard; and 41 nieces and nephews.

Cel was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Mel Kammers and Bill Phillips.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Grand Arbor for the incredible care and kindness they gave Cel during his time there.