FUNK, Jacob John “Wayne”

October 4, 1936 — August 24, 2026

With gratitude, pride, and love, we wish to celebrate the life of our dad, husband, father-in-law, and grandpa, Jacob John “Wayne” Funk. Dad was a man of resilience, commitment, and fierce dedication to his family.

Dad was the first born of four to Jake and Marie Funk on October 4, 1936, in Rosthern Saskatchewan. A farm hand by age five, Dad was a right arm to his parents and siblings. He excelled at every sport he played. A near fatal illness in his senior year at Rosthern Junior College ended his hockey aspirations after a post–surgery tryout with the Saskatoon Blades. Many will remember Dad’s crystalline tenor singing voice.

Dad knew Mom, Sheila, when he worked at the Royal Bank of Canada in Craik, Saskatchewan, but it was a chance meeting when he spotted her at a bus stop a few years later that their history began. They were married for 62 years – a team, best friends, and dance partners. People would gather to watch Dad and Mom jive dance.

Dad would have been an exceptional surgeon or engineer. He was incredibly intelligent and analytical. He would also have loved to farm with his father-in-law, Maurice Cogswell, or drive long haul, but his joining the Royal Bank of Canada out of high school made accounting the logical career path. He studied for years to get his Certified Management Accountant designation (CMA) while working full time, as a newlywed.

Dad’s career turned to the Saskatchewan potash mining industry, where he proudly worked for the Alwinsal Potash Mine in Lanigan, Saskatchewan. He then advanced to a position with Placer Dome Inc. in Vancouver.

Dad’s favourite and most successful role came when he took on the title of Dad. Two daughters arrived to test his psyche (as he would say)! Dad’s role partnered with Mom’s role on the breakfast assembly line and driving to skating, piano, dance, and swim lessons. Dad pulled us on the sled in the cold Saskatchewan winters and chauffeured family road trips to the Okanagan in the summer, while we sang along to Barbara Streisand’s eight-track tape. Christmas in Mesa. Hairspray, boys, and curfews. Graduations, followed by all night drives to Calgary and Vancouver when his girls needed ANYTHING…. He was even tempered and offered only consistent, calm, and reassuring persuasion. Joni still follows his succinct, pithy one-line advisements such as: “Joni, you can’t make people do things.”

“Funk fixes” were Dad’s specialty. No need to call a professional when you can rely on your ingenuity!

Retirement was a move back to BC, RV journeys to Arizona, cruises, trips to Australia, and laughs. So many laughs.

As his body failed him, just shy of 90, Dad held on with everything he had, for just a few more moments with his family. We will miss his hugs, humility, kindness, and courage. We know you are with us, your legacy intact, thanks to guidance and educated advice that keeps us from following the crowd like sheep.

Dad was pre-deceased by his brothers, Kerby Funk (Loree) and Garth Funk (Anita); his sister-in law, Joan Schneider (John); and his brother-in-law, Gary Stavness (Diane).

Dad is survived by his wife, Sheila; his sister, Elaine Boschman (Willard); his granddaughter, Cameron Yakimchuk; his sister-in-law, Diane Stavness; his brother-in-law, John Schneider; his daughter, Maureen Yakimchuk (Joseph); his daughter, Joni Funk; numerous nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.

We thank Dad’s nephews, Benson Boschman and Matthew Funk for their supportive visits with Dad at the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) and at home. We appreciate the consistent support of Dad’s friends and neighbours.

We sincerely thank Dad’s family physician, Dr. Alexandra Thomson, the attentive staff at the KGH, the dedicated palliative home care nurses and home care workers and the caring nurses at Hospice House.

In remembrance, we will listen critically to harmonic melodies, order the seafood pasta, thank caregivers for their kindness, debate with an open mind, book the cruise and enjoy the drive. We love you and miss you interminably!

(Daddy, we note you died in summer. You loved the heat.)

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