May 24, 1926 — Sept. 23, 2015

Jean Welch Funk, 89, formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 in Vero Beach, Florida where she and her husband retired after living in Niles for 65 years.

She was born to the late Dr. William H. Welch and Sylvia Pettit Welch in Lansing, Michigan. Jean attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but transferred and graduated from Michigan State University at East Lansing, Michigan. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She met her husband Lee Funk during their college years at MSU. After graduation they married on September 25, 1948 in East Lansing and then moved to Lee’s hometown, Niles, Michigan. They celebrated over 65 years of marriage and the birth of two children, Linda Jean and Lee Welch. She was a dedicated mother and homemaker, taught lower school intermittently and was the caretaker of her mother in her later years. She later tutored children with special needs at the Assembly of God Church School. Jean was a life-long member of Wesley United Methodist Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and chaired various committees. She was a member of several clubs in Niles including the Orchard Hills Bridge Club, couples bridge club, The Methodist Bible Club, and the Four Flags Dance Club and volunteered at her children’s school during their early years. She was a member of The Niles Community Book Club and was a voracious reader.

Jean is survived by her parents and sister Wilma Young, her son, Dr. Leland Funk and daughter in law, Ruth Ann Colvin Funk, of Vero Beach, Florida and their children Haley and Leland Jack and her daughter Linda Jean Funk Vaintrub of Chicago, Illinois and Linda’s children, Isabel Lee, Amelia Mei, and Sonja Lin. Jean and Lee adored their grandchildren (dubbed Papa and Gammi) and spent weekends with them at Linda’s summer home, holidays in Niles, Chicago, and Arizona as did Lee and Ruth Anne who later blessed them with two more grandchildren.

Lee and Jean moved to Vero Beach eight years ago to be near Lee and Ruth Ann and their family. As the years passed Lee and Ruth Ann were dedicated to them and Linda and her children visited from Chicago as school vacations allowed. Jean and Sonja, were especially close and often chatted on the phone for no less than an hour gossiping about Linda and Uncle Lee’s childhood. Thankfully, Lee and Ruth Ann were close by and cared for them in their last years and even their last hours.

A memorial service to celebrate Jean’s life as well as her husband Leland P. Funk who preceded her in death last year, will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Wesley United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Cathi Huvaere, officiating. Mrs. Funk will be laid to rest next to her husband at Silverbrook Cemetery as they planned long ago.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jean and Lee’s memory to Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.