Funk, Aganetha Duerksen (1907-2005)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2005 Dec 16 p. 27

Birth date: 1907 Nov 7

text of obituary:

AGANETHA FUNK

Aganetha Funk died Oct. 16. She was born Nov. 7, 1907 in Neuhalbstadt, Ukraine to Jakob and Katerina Duerksen. Aganetha accepted the lord, was baptized and joined the Mennonite Church. Her family lost everything during the Soviet regime and lived in exile in the Ural Mountains. At 20, Aganetha fell in love with Heinrich Funk and they were married in 1928. God blessed them with five children, 2 of whom died in infancy. In 1941, Aganetha and Heinrich renewed their commitment to the lord and were baptized in the Inguls River, joining the MB Church. During WW II, the family fled to Germany. After the war, the family was again exiled to Siberia. After Stalin's death in 1956, the Funks moved to Kyrgyzstan where they joined the Baptist underground church and served in the choir. They immigrated to Canada in 1977. Aganetha joined King Road MB Church, Abbotsford and served in the ladies missions group until age 93. Predeceased by Heinrich; 3 grandchildren; she is mourned by daughters Tina (Christian) and Elsa (Peter); son Heinrich (Lidia); 17 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 8 great- great-grandchildren. The funeral was Oct. 21 at King Road MB Church.