Albert Gail Funk

1925 ~ 2014

Albert Gail Funk was born at home in Sterling, Utah on Feb. 18, 1925, the 6th of 13 children of Emily Sigrid Johnson and Charles Buckley Funk. He passed away at home on Oct. 11, 2014.

He lived and worked on his family\s farm which gave him a lifetime love of growing vegetables. "Do you know that you can have radishes ready to eat in just 14 days?\"

He served an LDS mission in the Northwestern States.

Following his mission he served in the army of occupation in South Korea where he learned to sing the first line of Ah Di Dong.

Because of the GI Bill he went to school at Snow College where he paid $9 a month for a room and was upset because he found out someone else got one for $5. After Snow he enrolled at BYU where he graduated with a B.S. degree. He came to the University of Utah where he studied chemistry under Henry Eyring. He intended to get a M.S. but Dr. Eyring told him to "go to the top" and so he got a Ph.D. He often quoted Dr. Eyring's "go to the top" when he was trying to encourage someone to go to school because he loved learning and thought everyone else did too.

He headed the research department of IRECO for 15 years and traveled the world sharing his expertise in explosives design.

On August 15, 1963, he married Arla Wangsgard in the Salt Lake Temple.

Albert served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a Bishop, a Bishop's Counselor, a High Councilor, a Ward and Stake Mission Leader and when they were desperate, a teacher. Albert and Arla served as Inner City Missionaries for 2 Ω years. He loved missionary work and was always making friends and trying to help others see the same value in the church that he experienced.

He is survived by his wife Arla, daughter Christine Jackson (Brian) of Salt Lake City, sons David (Alisa) of San Antonio, TX, Matthew (Rebecca) of Ogden, Michael and a foster son Melvin Endito (Julie) of Salt Lake City, and fourteen grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at the University Ward, 160 University St, Tue. Oct. 14th, at 11 a.m. with a viewing preceding the services at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery among the deer.