Vernon Francis “Buddy” Funk, Jr

Vernon Francis “Buddy” Funk, Jr., 87, of Hurdland, Missouri, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2020 at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

Buddy was born on December 19, 1932, in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of Vernon Francis Sr. and Alpha Avis Peavler Funk.

He was raised in Kirksville and graduated from the Kirksville High School, graduating in the Class of 1951. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1956.

On October 14, 1956, at the old Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville, Missouri, Buddy married Dorothy Estella Bowen and to this union a son was born.

He lived his entire married life in Hurdland, Missouri. Buddy worked for the International Shoe Factory, later known as Florsheim Shoe factory, from 1949 to 1994, then went to work another twenty-five years with the Tractor Supply Farm Store in Kirksville, retiring in 2019.

They were members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville, Missouri and he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, old cars, and helping anyone in the community.

He is survived by his son John Funk of Jefferson City, Missouri; three grandchildren, Holly Funk of Columbia, Missouri, Carmen and her husband Mike Hopkins of Union, Missouri, and Lydia and her husband Eric Roberto of Jefferson City, Missouri; a brother, John A. and his wife Eileen Funk of Abingdon, Illinois; nieces and nephews, Darrell and his wife Henrietta Garman of Kirksville, Missouri, Carol and her husband Steve Holt of Columbia, Missouri, Steve and his wife Judy Funk of Belleville, Illinois, Mark and his wife Terri Funk of Columbus, Ohio and Terri Funk of Abingdon, Illinois; a dear family friend Glenn Moots, who was a great help to Buddy over the years; great nieces, great nephews and a host of friends.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Sr. and Alpha Funk; wife, Dorothy Funk; and a sister, Paul Ann Lynn.

Funeral services will be Sunday, October 11, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville, Missouri.

Visitation will be after 12:30 p.m. Sunday, with the family receiving friends until service time at the church.

Burial with full Military Honors by Cyril A Graham American Legion Post #261, will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hurdland, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, MO.

An expression of sympathy in memory of Buddy Funk may be left to the I.O.O.F. Cemetery for mowing or the Knox County Food Bank. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home 208 N. 4th Street, Edina, Missouri 6