"So sorry to hear about Coach Funk's passing. Best coach I ever had. I taught his BB offense to every kid's team I coached. Roger Mason Class of 76"
In loving memory of
George L. Funk 06/06/2019
December 5, 1933 - June 6, 2019
George Lewis Funk, 85, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Briarwood Health Care Center in Iowa City, IA. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019, at the Roundhouse located on the Marshalltown High School Campus at 1602 S. 2nd Avenue, Marshalltown, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the George Funk Memorial Fund which will be used to benefit future student athletes of Marshalltown High School. Anderson Funeral Homes of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
George was born on December 5, 1933, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of A. Marie (Blythe) Funk and George H. Funk. He graduated in 1952 from Manual High School in Peoria. While in high school, he played football, baseball, and basketball. George earned a scholarship to play basketball at Drake University in Des Moines, IA, and played there from 1952-1956. In 2006, he was named to the Drake Basketball All Decade Team. While at Drake, George was also a member of the Air Force ROTC. After graduation, he served in the Air Force as a radar technician. He would say the best part of college was that it is where he met his wife, Phyllis Diane Thomas. They were married on June 9, 1956, one week after they graduated from Drake. George began his teaching and coaching career in Ida Grove and Knoxville, IA, before going to Marshalltown High School. There he served as Head Boys Basketball coach for 26 years. He retired from coaching in 1989, but retained his position as Athletic Director until his retirement in 1998. When George and Phyllis moved to Marshalltown in 1963, George became a Bobcat for life as he never lost his passion for Bobcat athletics and for the Marshalltown community. George was an avid Cubs fan, he enjoyed gardening and fishing, and he especially enjoyed spending time with his family. Family vacations were always special.
George is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Marshalltown; three children: Diane (Earl Gingerich) Funk of Iowa City, Lori (Steve) Mitts of Olathe, KS, Mark (Tim) Funk Meyer of Minneapolis, MN; seven grandchildren: Ethan Gingerich, Aliese Gingerich, Ben (Nina Luo) Mitts, Alex (Roxanne) Mitts, Andres Meyer, Pablo Meyer, Rudy Meyer; and his brother, Robert (Bill Weber) Funk of Charleston, IL.
Tributes
"So sorry to hear of Mr. Funk's passing. I have the utmost respect and admiration for him...yes, as a "larger than life" coach and teacher, but even more so as a man and a gentleman. After my dad passed away many years ago, Mr. Funk took it upon himself to check in on my mom for months afterward. He'd ask her how she was, maybe take her to lunch (never let her pay), and just make sure she was doing okay. He also had the courage (love) to address us kids if he saw us going down the wrong path. I'm thankful and truly blessed to have known him. Phyllis, Mark, and family, thank you for sharing him with the Marshalltown community all those years. We are all better for it. Be at peace. Tim Socha Bobcat Class of '82"
"I only met Coach Funk once in my high school career - I was a Lenihan kid, but the respect that his players carried for him was evident in the way they approached life. I agree with what someone else said...he was a coach, a mentor, a respected member of the Marshalltown community. Rest in peace, Coach. Thank you. "
"I was a sophomore at MHS 1965-66, when Coach Fund and his team won the state championship. No classes the following Monday; dance in the cafeteria instead, and the Catholic kids from Lenihan High even came over to help us celebrate. "
"Sympathy for the Funk Family. Sorry. But proud to have known him. I never had him as a teacher or coach. But as a sports journalist, Mr. Funk was always a subject. I doubled as a Park and Rec. Associate those years back, Coach Funk liked his tennis. So now he can call the shots in Heaven. Have your whistle ready., Dave Hubbard Pebbles sports editor 1967. Times Republican staffer-ex. "
"Reading these tributes and the range of writers, give a sense the consistency of Coach Funk and wide impact he had. Everyone wanted to be on Coach Funk's side. We all wanted to live up to his expectations. We learned about integrity, about priorities and what it really takes to win. Self-confidence, combined with humility, loyalty and a sense of humor make a great man. Dan Becker Bobcat class of '72 Would Larry Daniels and Coach England please contact me: 401-965-2246"
"This man was my basketball coach at Marshalltown High School and while very tough on the outside he was such a great mentor and I learned much from him. Coach taught us that we needed to work very hard to earn success and that nothing is ever handed to us. And work hard we did with a loud booming voice teaching us at practice and also a loud voice and a heel kick to the wooden bench bleacher ?teaching us? during games! What spectacular success he had at Marshalltown. His teams played disciplined and hard at all times. The success led to packed gyms of 5,000+ fans in the Roundhouse. It was an amazing home court advantage. Marshalltown was the center of high school basketball in Iowa. Coach Funk brought winning and that built community pride into Marshalltown. I was fortunate to play on the State Championship runner-up team in 1976 and we were #1 ranked for most of 1977. So many great memories of tremendous teammates and friends and Coaches Funk and Kester. RIP to my Coach and God Bless and prayers to the Funk family. Perry Meyer, MHS 1977"
"Remember him as coach in the 80?s,,truly a wonderful man!"
"Coach Funk was my basketball coach at Knoxville in 1960 and 61. He not only was a great coach but took special interest in each of his student/athletes! I may never had gone to college had it not been for his guidance and help. In 1960 Knoxville lost to Marshalltown by 1 pt. in the Sub-State final. From that time on he always said his dream job would be the Basketball Coach at Marshalltown!! He was like a father to many of his players. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Phil Langstraat"
"Sheryl Eisenbeis on June 13, 2019 We had the privilege of living next door to George and Phyllis during their retirement in Marshalltown for about 14 years. Our knowing him was not as a coach, but as someone slowing down and enjoying retirement and loving his whole family. George was one of the best neighbors we've ever had, a great friend, sincere and honest, a wonderful man with a sense of humor, appreciative of others, and someone we could learn from, always a teacher he was. He shared his tomatoes with us, and we traded a lot of foods with him. He was conscientious when a neighborly problem occurred, and asked, what can he do to make it right? I missed him when we moved away. I send my sympathy to his family at this time of loss, and you can be very proud of the person he was!"
"George was a unique basketball coach. Who?s fast break style of play was way ahead of our time. That style produced extraordinary success and results. He taught discipline, hard work and effort would win the day. He was right. To me he was much more than just my coach. He helped me through some really tough times. For that I?m truly grateful. Thank You George for all you did for me. Rest In Peace and May Peace be with your family. Gary Bussell Co-Captain MHS Bobcats 1969"
"George was my history teacher at Knoxville IA and his class was so much fun. We could get him away from history but before the class was over he would teach us at least 15 minutes of history. I graduated from Knoxville in 1961. "
"So sorry to hear of coach Funks passing, he was my history teacher and basketball at Knoxville H.S. He was the best coach I ever had and taught me discipline and a strong work ethic that I have carried on through my life . Rest In Peace Coach and God Bless You."
"Some of my best memories in life were being a Bobcat playing for Coach Funk. Whether it was one more wind-sprint or another lap in the Roundhouse, we were always in shape and prepared using Coach Funk's "fill-the-lane fast-break" or "full-court-press" style of play mixed with a good dose of teamwork to create a state-ranked team. For us old timers, who can't forget beating Roosevelt & Toby Houston on their homecourt and the next weekend beating un-beaten East Waterloo in the Roundhouse ! Every time we met since then, I thanked Coach Funk for those life-lessons I was able to use in my business career. Rest in Peace Coach and thank-you for your leadership and being a role-model for so many of us. Lyle Jensen Co-Captain MHS Bobcat Team of 1969 "
"As a varsity team manager 67-69 Coach Funk ignited the basketball flame in me. He had a big influence on me sports wise by setting the foundation for my 25 year career in Championship basketball as a High School coach and as a video scout at the NCAA WNBA& NBA Levels in Los Angeles. I shall never forget what he said to me when I stepped down from the stage at my High School graduation. I Always wanted to visit & thank him when I was in Marshalltown at my last high school reunion but it wasn't meant to be. Regretably words unspoken. RIP Coach. Al Buck MHS class of 1969."
"I was fortunate to be hired by Mr. Funk and am grateful for his guidance and support as a young teacher and coach. I have very fond memories of my interactions with him and always appreciated his support for all of the sports and activities at MHS. He was a good man who coached and worked with young people for the right reasons. "
"There are those of us at a certain age that can recall the '65 - '66 MHS basketball season that culminated in a State Championship (as an aside many will also remember the Maid-Rite calendars that had the MHS football schedule with boxes to write in each game's score and behind was the MHS basketball schedule with boxes for each game's score).As a 6th grade student at that time,the State Basketball championship was as big as it could get.So coach Funk always had a certain reverence to all that could recall those glory days.Mr. Funk was my gym teacher in one of my semesters at MHS.I remember that he would usually be a participant in the various activities and he never gave less than full effort,he hated to lose and would convey that attitude to the rest of the team.A Marshalltown icon has passed.Rest in peace,coach Funk. Respectfully,Larry Daniels"
"Sad to hear of Coach Funk's passing. I worked closely with George for over a decade covering Bobcat basketball on the radio and our weekly Coach's Corner broadcast on Saturdays (Sweet Georgia Brown). So many exciting games and heartbreaking losses...and when the Bobcats didn't make State (which wasn't often) George always wanted to be our color commentator for the Boys State Tournament which KFJB used to do in it's entirety. It was a great time and Coach was always very good to me. Jim and Barb (Thompson-69) Hyatt"
"Coach Funk was such a big part of many lives. I remember his booming voice in study hall. Basketball season was so much fun. Rest in peace coach."
"My memories go so far back it is hard to recall all of the interactions I had with COACH FUNK. I played baseball under him and later in life donated my time to the athletic program as often as I could. I had nothing but respect and admiration for this terrific Coach and MAN. My heart is heavy with his loss and can only hope and pray that God can help all of his family through this time of sorrow. God Bless the George Funk Family."
"Coach Funk, thanks for the memories. You made Marshalltown, Iowa a special place for high school basketball. "
"My heart is heavy with sadness at the loss of Mr. Funk. I have so many wonderful memories of this incredible man that I wouldn't know where to start at sharing just one! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May God Bless you during this difficult time in your lives. Love to all, Karen Whitmore-Ryan"
"George Funk was a larger than life personality who helped many teenagers transition to adulthood. He was devoted and disciplined. He led by example. The MHS roundhouse was his ?cathedral? that was occupied over decades by thousands of his ?parishioners?. God bless you George Funk."
"Phyllis,Mark & Family: Condolences on Mr. Funk passing away. He was a great teacher of b-ball fundamentals and those of us who continued to play post-high school were often praised for those fundamentals. Future teammates and opponents knew we were Bobcats and had been taught well. Peace to you. Mark G Atkinson, MHS 1981"
"So very sorry to hear of Coach Funk's passing. Enjoyed him as a history teacher and appreciated his help during my coaching years @ MHS. Wonderful leader; wonderful Cubs fan! --Tom and Susan Haight"
"Phyllis and Family ~ Kerry and I were so sorry to learn of your loss. Coach Funk was a great teacher of fundamentals, whether they be of family and moral values or of shooting a basket. He was one of the most influential and supportive people in my life. "May God Bless" Tom and Kerry England"
"Mark and family I am very sorry to hear of ?Coach? passing. There are no words to describe the incredible amount of respect I have for George! Truly a LEGEND! "
"My father JH Bragg loved this guy... He so enjoyed those 10 years he brought our team to the state playoffs and never missed a game while residing in Marshalltown... Great man He was... Joan Bragg Clemens"
"My thoughts and prayers are with my Aunt Phyllis, Cousins Dianne, Laurie, Mark and all of your families. My heart hurts for you all. May God provide the peace that you will all be reunited one day. Lots of Love Sent your way! Cheryl Reyes "
"George was a wonderful neighbor and a coach well into retirement. I remember shortly after having moved into our home that our daughter came in the door to announce that a man was talking to our son out on the driveway. Outside, I found Coach Funk standing with his cane, giving our middle schooler tips on shooting free throws! I started a conversation with George and my son asked if he could ride his scooter. I said ?sure? and continued my chat with George. A little later in the conversation my son returned and started shooting again. After missing a shot, George stopped in mid sentence to tell my son, ?If you would of kept practicing you wouldn?t have missed that!? CLASSIC COACH RESPONSE! We miss you, George!"
"One of the best coaches ever! Not only at MHS but that I ever knew or had the great fortune to learn from! Coach Funk, Rest In Peace! Coach Mike Knoll"
"Please accept out sincere condolences, Sparky and family. Your dad meant so much to me and so many others. He truly made a difference in our lives. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. RIP, Coach!"
"With deepest sympathy, I remember a man who was always kind to me, always willing to talk or tease me about something. He was a great man."
"One of Marshalltown's most humble human beings. He help develop many of the leaders of our community today. I'm so blessed to have worked with him and to have been part of his church family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who have been touched by his Spirit. "
"The Greatest Athletic Director that I ever worked for. A man of his word and a great supporter of the Bobcats. Condolences and prayers to the family. Jerry and Judy Nikkel"