Funk, Albert

Albert Funk, born in 1914, was the oldest son of Dave and Eva Funk. (He had at least four siblings:  Jack, Jim, Mabel and Fred.) Dave, who heard about the homesteads available in the Peace Country, travelled to Grande Prairie in fall 1927 to file on some land. The family moved by train from Saskatchewan to Wanham AB in April 1928.  Albert and his brother Jack rode in one of the box cars which held their belongings, horses, cows and chickens. Soon, Dave was instrumental in starting a school which was named West Vale School. Because money was tight in the 30s, Albert helped out by trapping weasels, squirrels, coyotes, and hunting deer and moose.

On January 30, 1938 he married a teacher of West Vale School, Jennie Cahill. Two of their children, Karen and Tom were born in 1938 and 1941, while they were living in their first home on Albert’s homestead. Albert’s brothers, Jack and Jim served in WW II, and Albert also joined the Army in 1942.  Stationed overseas, he was with the Provost Corp in England.  When he returned to Canada, he and his young family settled on a farm east of Woking.  Jennie also had her own homestead just one mile west of the hamlet. They hoped to increase their farming through the help of the Veteran’s Land Act. Their third child, Peter, was born while living in Woking.

Albert purchased an army surplus truck with only 17,000 miles, and four-wheel drive. He built his own flat-deck, and sides, so he was able to haul lumber, pulp, grain, cattle and horses among other things. Obtaining a public service license, he operated a trucking business besides his farming.  Once he tried to move a house which became stuck on the railroad tracks, clearing it just before the train passed! After 6 years and 200,000 miles, Albert traded in his Army truck.  While on the homestead, their house was destroyed by fire on a night when it was 30 below. Suffering from frostbite and burns, Albert was in the hospital for 5 weeks.  The Funks moved to Haney BC in 1955, where their youngest, Candi, was born.  A member of the Fronstiersmen, Albert also enjoyed curling.  He passed away in Mission BC at age 84 in January 1998.

Source:   Burnt Embers p. 110 – photo in uniform, pp. 463, 464 family history

Grooming the Grizzly pp. 315-318 family story

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