Jay Funk

MASON CITY — Jay Richard Funk, 67, of 825 15th St. S.E., Mason City, died with his wife and daughter at his side on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, at his home, following a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 120 First St. N.E., with the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson officiating. Interment will be held in Elmwood-St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Memorials may be directed to the Jay Funk memorial fund in care of the family.

Jay was born on December 18, 1943, at the Park Hospital in Mason City, the son of Albert and Ardeen (Anderson) Funk.

In Dec. 1994, Jay met the love of his life, Barbara Ann Mau. On Oct. 9, 2006, they were married, and to this union, their daughter, LeAnna Lynn Funk was born on Jan. 15, 1996. Jay attended Grant Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and Mason City High School, graduating in 1962.

Jay had many different jobs over the years. He started working at Mason City Foundry and Decker’s Meat Plant, which became a full-time job on May 5, 1968, on that night he was in a bad car accident, which left him disabled.

In 1965, after teaching himself, Jay started playing bass guitar with many different bands, eventually landing with Bill Dewey and the Dynammics for 25 years starting in 1986. Jay missed only one show in 25 years and that was when he was hospitalized Thanksgiving weekend, which Jay stopped playing after finding out he had cancer.

Jay loved singing to Barb when they played on weekends. He always sang “Keys in the Mailbox” and “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” Jay always had stories and jokes to tell, never repeating one. It didn’t matter what kind of mood you were in, Jay could always make you laugh.

His childhood memories were playing hide-and-go-seek at night in Elmwood Cemetery, dressed as Dracula and scaring the girls.

Jay, Mick and their mom would scrap up 75 cents every summer for malts at Birdsall’s.

Jay loved collecting records, movies on VHS, DVD, CDs, 8-tracks, 78s and 45s. Jay loved books by Ray Bradbury. He also loved his cats, Bounce and Eevee, he would often call them his grandkids.

Jay loved spending time with LeAnna, they enjoyed watching cartoons together, drawing and seeing who could draw the best Pokemon. Jay loved taking LeAnna to East Park. Jay also enjoyed going for drives around Clear Lake in the summer, and then to Birdsall’s for malts.

Jay was proud the day LeAnna started singing and playing violin, carrying the Funk talent on.

Jay is survived by his wife: Barbara (Mau) Funk of Mason City; his daughters: LeAnna Lynn at home, Michelle Lynn of Mason City; his son: Jerry Lee and granddaughter Dreama of Floyd, his adopted sons: Zach Marie of Waterloo, Josh Redig of Waterloo; brothers: Mick Funk (Kathy) of Willcox, Ariz., Jayme Funk (Keri) of Mason City; nieces and nephews: Deb Pheffer, Keith Funk (Chris), John Funk (Denise), Lori Eden (Chris), Tara Brown (Andrew); his grandcats: Bounce and Eevee; mother and father-in-law, Linda and Randy Mau of Mason City; sisters-in-law, Melissa Mau of Des Moines; Amy Monahan (Troy) and sons Jordon, Troy David, and Riley of Mason City; aunts, uncles, and cousins; band brothers: Bill Dewey, Gary Cahoy, Tommy Clarke, Jared Wingert, and the rest of Jay’s musician family.

He was preceded in death by his daughter: Heather LeAnne Funk, parents: Albert J. Funk and Ardeen L. (Anderson) Kitner; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a very special family friend, Mary Beth Fransisco.

Jay’s family has requested that everyone brings flowers to make a bouquet around his bass guitar.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, IA 50401. 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

(Published February 4, 2011 - Mason City Globe Gazette)    Photo from MCHS Yearbook