Darwin D. Funke

Darwin D. Funke, age 89, of State Center, Iowa, passed away on June 19, 2025, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City surrounded by loved ones.

Funeral services for Darwin will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in State Center. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 23 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. also at the church. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Darwin and his family.

Born in 1935 in the house he continued to live in, Darwin graduated from State Center High School in 1953 before serving proudly in the United States Army. During his service he acted as a sharpshooter and won numerous competitions during his service years.

After his service, he returned to his roots and committed his life to farming, working the land with devotion and care, raising hogs, corn, and soybeans. Darwin had an engineering mind and in the late 1960s, began asking various farm equipment manufacturers about a design of his for a small piece of equipment that would fit inside his hog houses to assist with cleaning them out. None of them had anything like he had designed so he spent all winter building this piece of equipment, hence the skid loader was designed and built. A few years later many manufacturers had their own versions of this type of equipment that many still use today.

He always made time for adventure. He had a passion for speed and open skies—riding motorcycles on memorable trips to Colorado and Sturgis, and zipping across winter landscapes on countless snowmobile journeys, always pushing the throttle just a little farther.

He and his wife of 68 ½ years, Barb, shared a lifelong passion for dancing. Members of the Red Friars Dance Club for five decades, though they have been dancing for over sixty years, they graced the floor with their favorite waltzes and cha chas. Most Sundays, they could be found dancing together at the Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward, Iowa, a cherished tradition known among friends and family.

In August 2024, Darwin and Barb were honored with the Heritage Farm Award, a proud recognition of his family’s farming legacy, celebrated with his entire family present. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of State Center being baptized, confirmed, married and served on many boards and committees and was a lifelong member of the church.

He loved to be there for his grandchildren's activities and sporting events. He was proud of their accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, court, or stage. He would later be vocal if he disagreed with a call.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his loving wife of over 68 years, Barb Funke; his daughter, Nan (Jay) Benson of State Center, IA; three grandchildren, Danielle (Nate) Smith of Lincoln, NE, Josh (Natasha) Benson of Waukee, IA and Whiteny (Dan) Brix of Altoona, IA; three great-grandchildren, Owen Benson, Isaac Benson and Luke Smith. Darwin is also survived by his brother, Larry (Linda) Bohnsack of State Center, IA; his sister-in-law, Ellen Waterbury of Fairfield, IA and brother-in-law, Bill (Ellyn) Waterbury of Iowa City, IA and with numerous nieces and nephews.

In Eternal Life, Darwin is rejoined with his mother, Marcella Irene (Harrendorf) Bohnsack; his father, Elmer Funke, step-father, Albert Bohnsack; brother in infancy, Dale Funke; mother and father-in-law, Charles (Bertha) Hart; brother-in-law Gene (Anita) Hart and another brother-in-law in infancy.

He will be remembered for his steadfast love of family, sharing a conversation, maybe a long one, with a friend, his commitment to farming, his risk taking on a snowmachine or motorcycle, his unwavering work ethic, and the joy he brought to every room—and every dance floor.