Carl Heinrich Funke Jr., 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 17, 2024, surrounded by the love of his devoted wife and three daughters.
 
Carl is survived by his beloved wife, Candy Fee Funke; his daughters, Candida Funke Hoeberichts, Meredith Funke Vosburgh, and Lauren Funke Hardy-Smith; his sons-in-law, Lee Vosburgh, Andrew Hoeberichts, and Jason Hardy-Smith; and his cherished grandchildren, Schuyler Hoeberichts, Gabriella Hoeberichts, Connor Hardy-Smith, and Tyler Hardy-Smith.
 
Born on February 9, 1940, in New York, NY, Carl was the eldest of four siblings: Peter Funke, Richard Funke (deceased), and Jenifer Funke Noell.  The Funke family divided their time between Montclair and Spring Lake, NJ, where Carl developed a lifelong passion for outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, hiking, swimming, and bodysurfing.

Carl graduated from Canterbury Preparatory School in 1958, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball, earning the prestigious William Hume Nelson Award.  He then attended Dartmouth College, where he continued to shine in football (All Ivy), lacrosse, and rugby, served as president of Aquinas House, and was an active member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Sphinx Honor Society.  His years at Dartmouth kindled a deep passion for travel, inspired by the distant places he explored through books.  
 
In 1962, following graduation, Carl embarked on a significant chapter of his life by volunteering to build a school for an impoverished village in Mexico.  That same year, he began his service as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, leading to further adventures across the Asia-Pacific region.  Returning to the U.S. in 1964, Carl began his career as a junior high school English teacher and football coach in Orange, Massachusetts, where he inspired students and shared his love for the sport.  He later moved to New York City to pursue an MBA at NYU, played rugby for the New York Rugby Team, and was offered a chance to play professionally in Europe—a chance he declined to honor his family’s textile tradition.
 
After graduating from NYU in 1966, Carl joined Celanese Corporation as a Marketing Manager and was transferred to Los Angeles, CA, where he founded a youth Pop Warner team, the Glendale Bears.  It was during this time that Carl’s love story with Candy Fee began, leading to their marriage in 1968 and the start of their family life in Los Angeles.
 
Carl eventually returned to New Jersey to become Vice President at Herman Funke & Sons, allowing him to be closer to family.  He later established Quick Quilts, acquired Land of Lace, led the Bandex North America Division, and oversaw Product Development and Sales for Artistic Woodwork.  Carl and Candy raised their three daughters in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and later enjoyed a second home in Montauk, where Carl found great joy in fishing, landscaping, swimming, biking, bodysurfing, clamming, and spending time with his grandchildren at the beach.
 
In addition to his passion for sports and the outdoors, Carl had a deep appreciation for the arts and was known for his eloquent writing.  His greatest priorities were his faith and his devotion to family and friends.  In Ridgewood, he served as an Extraordinary Minister for the Catholic Church, bringing communion to nursing homes, the VA hospital and the homebound.  Carl cherished his friendships and the many adventures shared with Canterbury and Dartmouth classmates and lifelong friends.  His most treasured moments were those spent with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.
 
Though Carl was a man of few words, his profound compassion and adventurous spirit defined a life lived with remarkable heart. 
 
A service for Carl will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Carl's memory through a donation to Dartmouth College, a place that was dear to his heart.
 
Contributions can be made to the Carl H. Funke '62 Memorial Fund. The family, in collaboration with Dartmouth, will use these gifts to create a meaningful tribute to Carl. Please send checks to:
 
Dartmouth College
Gift Recording Office
6066 Development Office
Hanover, NH 03755
 
Please note "Carl H. Funke '62 Memorial Fund" on the check. For donations via credit card, you can give online at dartgo.org/FunkeMemorialFund or call 603-646-0098.