Mary M. Funk

Mary Maloney Funk, age 97, of La Crosse, died Saturday, April 15, 2017. She was born March 13, 1920, to Anna Mangner Maloney and Edward Martin Maloney. Mary attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Aquinas High School. She graduated from College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota.

On January 3, 1942, Mary married Albert P. Funk, Jr., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Mary had a great love for the arts and education. She was very interested in the welfare of the La Crosse community serving on several boards.

She served on the Board of Advisors at Viterbo University and later became President. She was elected to the Board of Directors and served for 36 years. Mary was most honored to be a recipient of the Pope John XXIII award in 1989.

She was President of the La Crosse chapter of the American Association of University of Women. She served on the Board of Directors of the United Fund for the Arts and the Franciscan-Skemp Foundation.

She was on the Community Theatre board for 12 years and was awarded the Promethian Award for service to the theatre.

She was a member of two book groups from World War II to the present.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; her parents, Anna and Edward Maloney; two brothers and two sisters, Thomas and Ned, Evelyn and Kathryn.

She is survived by four daughters, Terrel (David) Gagermeier of Carmel, Indiana; Ellin (Robert) Osmond of Ramsbury, England; Gretchen (Michael) Geary of La Crosse; Kate (John) Lynch of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; and one son, A. Peter (Jeanne Underhill) Funk, of Helena, Montana; ten grandchildren,  Michael Gagermeier, Katie (Luke) Leising, Peter ( Wendy) Osmond, Edward (Lucinda) Osmond, Anna (Andy) Thompson, Patrick Geary, Tim (Piper) Lynch, Moira (Bill Bush) Lynch, Andrew Funk, Patrick Funk; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Mother’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren are very thankful for the many years of love and inspiration that they received from her. She loved their many visits and delighted in hearing about their lives.

The family is grateful to Dr. Cheri Olsen and Dr. David Momont for their compassionate care and friendship.

We are also very thankful for the attentive care that our mother received from the entire staff at The Willows and Bethany Riverside.

She appreciated her association with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration throughout her life.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, 530 Main St., La Crosse, WI. Msgr. Charles Stoetzel will officiate with burial to be held in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, WI. Visitation will be held form 4 to 6:00 PM, at Church, on Monday, April 24, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials may be made to United Fund for the arts and Humanities, 119 King St., La Crosse, WI, or La Crosse Public Main Library, 800 Main St., La Crosse, WI.