Julie Marie (McAllister) Funke

Julie Marie (McAllister) Funke, 58, of Greeley, Iowa, embraced the light of God on Sunday, February 16, 2020, after a hard-fought battle with metastatic breast cancer. Her determination and resiliency helped her translate an 18-month life expectancy into 7-½ treasured years spent with family and friends. Julie, the second of seven children, was born in Dubuque to Thomas and Marlene (Berthel) McAllister on March 23, 1961. She and her siblings grew up in a loving and faith-filled family on the McAllister farm in rural Earlville.

Following graduation from Beckman High School in Dyersville, Julie graduated from Capri School of Hair Design in Dubuque. Her first hairstyling job was in Sue Becker’s shop in Dyersville. She later worked for a time at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, where she made many friends. Finally, Julie worked at Studio 117 in Manchester for more than 17 years until she retired in September 2019. Julie had a gift, not only for cutting, coloring, and shaping hairstyles to perfection, but she made everyone who sat in her chair feel happy, relaxed, and very special.

Julie married Dan Funke on July 27, 1985, in Manchester. The couple lived for more than 34 years on the Funke family farm near Greeley, where they raised their three sons. Julie devoted herself to raising and teaching her boys to be loving, strong, honorable, and hardworking, and Julie was always present to cheer on her sons in their extracurricular and sporting events.

Julie’s life is documented by the scores of friends she made throughout the years. It can be said that “a stranger was a friend Julie hadn’t yet met.” She is best known for her sparkling eyes, constant smile, optimistic outlook, and infectious laugh, and all who knew Julie will say that she was a friend for life and a role model for strength, courage, and unconditional love. Julie opened her arms, her heart, and her home to anyone who wished to enter.

Throughout her life, Julie embraced both joy and challenges. In 2012, Julie was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after having beaten the original diagnosis nine years earlier. Thanks to successful treatment, Julie was blessed to celebrate her three sons’ marriages as well as the lives of her three grandchildren. She treasured times with her friends and extended family, but her smile was never brighter, nor was her heart more filled with love, than when she was with Parker, Logan, and Ella.

Left to cherish Julie’s memory are her husband Dan; her sons, Travis (Courtney) Funke of Iowa City and their children Logan and Ella, Austin (Hailey) Funke of Elkader and their son Parker, and Drew (Abigail) Funke of Lisbon. Julie is also survived by her cherished mother, Marlene McAllister of Dyersville; her siblings, Vicki (Jerry) Dunkel of Dyersville, Randy (Doris) McAllister of Earlville, Beth (David) Feldmann of Center Point, Christine (Steve) Herbers of New Vienna, Ron (Annette) McAllister of Marion, and Rick (Karla) McAllister of Marion. Julie’s several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews will miss their beloved aunt.

Greeting her in Heaven were her beloved father, Thomas McAllister; mother- and father-in-law, Jane and Francis Funke; and her infant niece, Amber Dunkel.

Our family wishes to thank the nurses and caregivers of Regional Medical Center Hospice of Manchester for their loving support and care.

Memorials may be designated to Hall-Perinne Cancer Center or Regional Medical Center Hospice.

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