Stephanie Funfar

She was born December 29, 1915 in Phillips to Elizabeth (Gren) and Leo Dudek. Stephanie attended early schooling in Phillips while living with her grandparents. She later moved to Chicago to join her family and graduated from Flower Technical High School.

She returned to Phillips and married James Funfar in Bessimer, Michigan on September 11, 1934. Together, they had one daughter, Joanne.

Stephanie was a contract mail carrier in Phillips from 1947 until 1975 on the C.M. Star Route. While living in Phillips, she was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church for many years until moving to Chippewa Falls in 1991 to make her home near her daughter. She then became a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, where she belonged to the Quilters Group and was a member of the Ruth Circle.

She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Joanne Bates of Chippewa Falls; three grandchildren, James (Nancy Benish) Bates of Eden Prairie, Minn., Laurie (Steven) Klingemann of West Salem, Thomas (Laura Ernst) Bates of Hilbert; six great-grandchildren, Taylor and Lindsay Bates, Mathias Klingemann, Amelia, Lydia and Owen Bates; many special nieces and nephews; and her canine companion, Callie Jo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James on March 12, 1983; a brother, Edward in WWII; a sister, Genevieve on Sept. 4, 1999; and her son-in-law, David Bates in 1986.

Stephanie was a very special lady and loved by many.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 17 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Paul Oppedahl officiating. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Phillips.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls is serving the family.

Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.


Afterservice

A funeral service for Stephanie A. Funfar, 95, of Chippewa Falls, was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 17 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls. The Rev. Paul Oppedahl officiated and music was provided by organist, Barbara Sandford and soloist, Doug Parker. Stephanie's great-granddaughters, Taylor and Lindsay Bates gave the readings and her grandchildren, Laurie Klingemann, Thomas and James Bates gave personal reflections.

Interment was in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Phillips and casketbearers were James and Thomas Bates, Steven and Mathia Klingemann, Clarence Rumpel, Thomas Mescher and Joan Lavell.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls is serving the family.