Esther Opal Morris Funk, 93, of Sullivan IN passed away Friday, September 1, 2017 in Terre Haute IN. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 8, 2017 at Waltham Presbyterian Church with Rev. Joel Stevenorand Rev. Dr. Roy Backus officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Thursday, September 7, 2017 at the Ottawa Funeral Home. A private burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park.
Esther was born August 5, 1924 in Tiskilwa, IL to Stylie H. and Lillie M. (Spratt) Morris. She married Robert Duane Funk June 20, 1947 in Tiskilwa, IL. He was a lifelong farmer in Dayton Township; he proceeded her in death August 12, 2010. Both Bob and Esther were proud of their family, including four children, six grandchildren, five greatgrandchildren, and dozens of close nieces, nephews and other relatives. The family remembers a dynamic, caring and gracious elder, devoted to her family, civic organizations, and her garden. She left them a love of reading, music, beauty, travel, and stewardship of the land.
Esther obtained her bachelors degree from Illinois State Normal University and a masters in education from the University of Illinois. She began and ended her elementary teaching career in the Ottawa public schools, taught music at several rural school districts, and was also superintendent at Wedron and at Utica schools. After retirement, she was Executive Director of the Campfire Council of Northern Illinois for many years, developing as an annual benefit a corn maze on the family farm outside of Ottawa. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Golden Kiwanis and Zonta. She was also active with the American Association of University Women, the Scouting Museum, the Oregon IL Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center, and the Reddick Mansion Association, where she was honored for her work as a board member and chair. With her husband, Esther had been a member of the Ottawa and then the Waltham Presbyterian Churches. In the past year she moved to Breckenridge Commons in Sullivan IN, close to her daughter and son-in-law. She embraced changes in this new community, organized and directed a resident choir, and chaired the residents’ council. She continued a love of flowers with her own garden outside her apartment windows. She attended Sullivan First Christian Church and was a member of Missionary Unit #6.
Esther is survived by one brother Don (Charlotte) of Yorkville IL, her children: daughter Barbara (John) Kristler of Sullivan IN; sons Bruce Funk of Germany, Paul (Dona) Funk of Michigan, and Brian Funk of Ottawa; daughter-in-law Lori Funk of Chillicothe IL, as well as a large and devoted family. She was also preceded in death by her parents, three sisters: Hazel Morris, Ivy Morris and Vera Vucich, and her husband Robert.
Pallbearers will be her Grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to the ReddickMansion, Stronghold, and Missionary Unit #6.
Esther has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.
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