Beatrice Funke

Visitation:  Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9 to 11 a.m.  Service:  Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m.  Location:  St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Grafton

Beatrice Funke, 79, of Port Washington, peacefully passed away at her residence in the evening hours of Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
Beatrice Joyce (Torke) Funke was born December 24, 1939, at the home of her parents located on Lake Church Rd. Belgium. Her parents were Orlo O. and Olive (Didier) Torke.
Bea attended St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School in Lake Church and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1957. She graduated from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in English and history in 1961. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in reading on 1987 and Curriculum and Instruction Certification (K-12) in 1987 from Cardinal Stritch College.
Bea taught third grade at St. Mary and St. Peter Catholic Schools for five years, substitute taught at Port Washington schools for many years, and retired in 2004 after serving as the Reading Specialist for the New Holstein Public School District.
Bea married Thomas R. Funke in 1961. She is survived by three children, Lara Angela Funke (Jeffrey) Nothem of Mayville, Michael Thomas Funke of Las Vegas, and Martha Susan Carter of New Hope, MN. She is further survived by seven grandchildren, Steffen Clavette, Marissa, Andrew, Julia and Hannah Nothem and Helena and Gianna Carter; brothers, John D. and Joseph F. Torke, both of Port Washington; sister-in-law, Nancy (Edward) Funke Snyder of Anaheim, CA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Bea was preceded in death by her husband in 2004; her parents; brother, Oliver Torke, sisters June Torke Domoe and Beata Schueller Janty; sister-in-law, Arleen (Bostwick) Torke and brother-in-law, Kenneth J. Schuller.
Bea maintained memberships with international, state and local reading associations, Luxembourg American Cultural Center, Ozaukee County Area Retired Educators’ Association, Riveredge Nature Center, Port Washington Woman’s Club, Tri County New Horizon Band, St. Joseph Parish Choir, and the Ozaukee Chorus.
Music was of special interest for Bea. For 15 years, she conducted a guitar group called Friendship People at St. Mary’s Church, Port Washington which also provided music at about 300 wedding services.
After she retired, Bea learned to play the flute and played with the New Horizon’s Band and sang with The Funshine Gals. She also played the string bass with St. Joseph’s Choir. She taught guitar to many students at her home as well as at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Bea was close to her family and especially treasured taking grandchildren to museums and special events.
She also enjoyed spending time at the family cottage at Rock Dam in Willard. She traveled Alaska and Greece and especially liked the trips to Luxembourg, Norway and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Grafton from 9 to 11 a.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 1619 Washington Ave., Grafton. Father Michael Barrett will preside over the Mass. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at New Holstein City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to St. John XXIII School in Port Washington or the Luxembourg American Cultural Center, Belgium.
The Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington is honored to serve the family. Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com