Notes
Note N106
Index
Tipton Daily Tribune, Wednesday April 3, 1985
Joseph Funke
Joseph C. Funke 78, Rt. 4, Tipton, died suddenly Tuesday April 2, 1985 at his home. A native of Tipton County, he was born Jan. 15, 1907 to Theodore and Mary Koors Funke.
His wife, Edna Vair Funke, to whom he was married in 1929, survives along with six children: Doris Whidden and Martha Eversfield, both of West palm Beach, Fla., William Funke, Tipton, Joan Dow, Duarte, Calif. Mary Ann Smith, Kokomo and Madonna Miller, Versailles; two brothers, John Funke, Tipton and the Rev. Clemet Funke, Austin, Texas; four sisters, Christina Tragesser, Anna Ziegler, Mary Jo Biltz and Bertha Elchuk, all of Tipton, 31 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. A son preceded him in death.
He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a retired farmer and had retired also from Railway Express.
A wake service is slated for 8 p.m. Monday at the Young-Nichols Funeral Home where friends may call after 2 p.m. The Revs. Clemet Funke and John Bouvier will conduct final rites Tuesday at St. John's Catholic Church at 10 A.m. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.
Notes
Note N107
Index
Tipton Daily Tribune, Monday July 30, 1990 Page 2
Christina E. Tragesser
Christina E. Tragesser, 81, 327 Oak St., died Sunday, July 29, at Mercy Hospital in Elwood.
Born March 11, 1909, in Tipton County, she was the daughter of Theodore and Mary Koors Funke. She was married April 17, 1928, to Aloysius A. Tragesser, who survives.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. John's Rosary Society, the Grandmother's Club, and past state president of American War Mothers.
Others surviving include six sons, Robert J. Tragesser of Elwood, James F. Tragesser of Hammond, Herb Tragesser of Kokomo, Ted Tragesser of Granger and Tom Tragesser and John Tragesser of Tipton; six daughters, Rita Parr of Austell, Ga., Connie Mumford of Freemont, Ohio, Henni Schulenburg of Casper, Wyo., Fran Mozzone of Fort Wayne, Becky Soupley of Sharpsville and Donna Tidler of Crystal Lake, Ill.; two sisters, Bertha Elchuck and Mary Jo Biltz of Tipton; two brothers, John Funke of Tipton, the Rev. Clement Funke C.S.C., of Austin, Texas; 55 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, one sister and one grandchild preceded her in death.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with the Revs. Clement Funke, John Bouvier, Don Hardebeck, Dave Hellmann and Fred Gschwind officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home.
Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Notes
Note N108
Index
CLEMENT HERMAN FUNKE was born August 29, 1913, on a farm two and one half miles east of Tipton, Indiana. He attended St. John the Baptist School for eight years and two years at St. Joseph High School, Elwood, Indiana. In August 1929 he entered Holy Cross Preparatory Seminary, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Father Funke entered St. Joseph Novate, Notre Dame, June 21, 1932 and made his final Profession of Vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross, August 16, 1936. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a B. A. degree in June 1937, and in September the same year entered Holy Cross college, Catholic University, Washington, D.C. He was ordained at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, Indiana, June 15, 1941, by the Most Reverend John F. Noll, D. D., Bishop of Fort Wayne.
His first assignment was to St. Ignatius Martyr Church, Austin, Texas, as assistant to Reverend Patrick Duffy C. S. C. In September 1942 he was assigned to teach at Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, (English, Greek, Latin and Religion) plus week-end assignments helping out in parishes, especially St. Augustine's Parish, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In February 1944 he was appointed Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church, Austin, Texas, and in April 1948 was made first Chancelor of the diocese. Along with being assistant pastor and chancellor he also held the office of Master of Ceremonies for episcopal functions of the diocese and the office of Degensor Vinculli of the Matrimonial court of the diocese. He was relieved of the office of Chancellor in September 1950, but was given the office of Assistant Chancellor and Secretary to the Bishop at that time. Also during the years of 1949 through 1951, Father Funke was State Chaplain of Catholic War Veterans, State of Texas.
His next assignment was assistant at St. Bernard's Church, Watertown, Wisconsin. Returning to South Bend in the summer of 1953, he was made assistant pastor of Holy Cross Church, then on December 23, 1953, he was appointed acting Pastor of Christ the King Church and about six month later was assigned pastorate. He immediately started construction of a new school which opened, September 1955. He then started action on a new church which was completed by October 1961. The church was dedicated on November 26, 1961, by Bishop Pursley. He also built a new convent and rectory. Father Funke was chaplain for Heathwin Hospital and also chaplain of Council 553, Knights of Columbus.
When he was in Texas he took flight training and his interest in flying led him into Civil Air Patrol and was chaplain for several years to the Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron of South Bend, Indiana. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was also the Indiana Wing Chaplain of the Civil Air patrol with primary coordinating the activities of all Civil Air Patrol chaplains of the state of Indiana.
In 1966 he was sent to Baton Rouge, Louisana, where he started the new parish, St. Jude the Apostle. He remained there until 1978 when he was told to return to St. Mary's in Austin and take it easy.
In 1983 he joined the "Club 70" whose members are no longer assigned but rather volunteer services in the Church according to health, ability and desire. From all reports his activities have not slowed down.
Besides his flying, other hobbies are fishing, hunting, golfing, athletics and a bit of manual labor to keep a youthful spirit showing.
Father Clement Funke dies in Austin, Texas
Father Clement Funke, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Funke of Tipton, died at 9:20 p.m. Sunday at Bracenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. (November 17, 1991)
Father Funke had celebrated 50 years as a priest last June with ceremonies at the St. John the Baptist Church in Tipton and at Sacred Heart Church on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
He is survived by two sisters, Berth Elchuk and Mary Jo Biltz of Tipton, one brother, John Funke of Tipton, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Masses will be celebrated in Austin and South Bend. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in South Bend.
A Mass of the Resurrection for Father Clement Funke, 78, in residence, St. Mary's Cathedral, Austin, Texas will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mareau Seminary of the University of Notre Dame campus in South Bend. The wake will be at 7 p.m. Friday. Anyone from the Tipton County area who plans to attend the Friday and Saturday services who also is in need of accommodations may call Father Melody at 1 (219) 289-6850. Accommodations are available for men and women.