Florentine Funk

Florentine A. "Florence" Funk, age 84, died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, May 17, 2014, surrounded by her family at her home in Freeport, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church in New Munich. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by St. Anne's Christian Mothers at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Florentine Ann Zierden was born March 28, 1930 in Melrose, Minnesota to George and Mary (Schaefer) Zierden. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1949 and worked as a bookkeeper in St. Paul. On August 21, 1956 she was united in marriage to Raymond Funk at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. The couple farmed south of Freeport until retiring in 1988. During retirement, they continued to help on the family farm and moved to Freeport in 2003. Florence was a homemaker all her life; lovingly raised nine children. She also enjoyed caring for her family and grandchildren and was famous for her cherry pies. She enjoyed canning, gardening, raking the lawn, her dogs and going to the family farm.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich and the St. Anne's Christian Mothers.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Funk of Freeport; children, Kathleen (Duane) Pung of Freeport, Joseph (LuAnn) Funk of Albany, Mary (Chuck) Kushner of Apple Valley, Diane (David) Jacobs of St. Cloud, Michael Funk of Freeport, Roger (Susan) Funk of Freeport, Janice Funk of Schertz, TX, Mark Funk of Freeport and Rachel (Jeff) Jaschke of Sauk Rapids; 25 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters, Loretta Thomas of Paynesville, Sr. Phyllis Zierden of Wilmette, IL, Marcella Nierenhausen of Avon, Viola (Jim) Beutz of Freeport; and brother, Clarence (Rosemary) Zierden of New Munich.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents; and infant brother, Raymond Zierden.

Serving as casket bearers will be her children, Kathleen, Joseph, Mary, Diane, Michael, Roger, Janice, Mark and Rachel. Cross bearer will be Derik Funk and scripture bearer will be Zack Strapman. Gift bearers will be Olivia Jacobs, Vanessa Pung and Sara Kushner. Readers will be Janice Funk and Allison Funk. Petitions will be read by Jeff Jaschke and the eulogy will be read by Janice Funk.