Dona Janelle Funk, 70, of Ames, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 10, 2025, surrounded by those she held dear, at the Israel Family Hospice Home in Ames.

Dona was born on December 10, 1954, in Monticello, Iowa, the daughter of Donald First and Ruth (Wigger) First. She graduated from high school in 1973. She attended Wartburg college to study  music and then transferred to Iowa State University for pre-nursing. On August 19,  1978, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Paul Funk, in Utica, Illinois. They celebrated their 47th anniversary in August of this year.

Dona lived a life rooted in faith, family, and compassion. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who poured her heart into caring for others. Throughout her life, she worked as a dental assistant and in retail sales, but her greatest joy came from being a full time Mother serving her family and sharing her faith with those around her. She will be fondly remembered for her generous spirit and the kindness she showed to everyone she met. Dona and Paul devoted much of their free time supporting Abigayle Ministries, a Christian home for unwed pregnant women.

She is  survived  by her  husband, Paul;  her two  children, Neil Funk of Michigan  and  Laura  (Ken) Kopecky  of Ames;  her four  grandchildren,  Calvin, Charlotte, Max,  and Danny ;  her  two sisters, Jorja  Ackermann Brown  of Worland,  Wyoming, and Patsy (John)  Christoffersen  of Provo, Utah,  her niece Jen Funk of Peoria, IL, and her nephews Mike First  and Aaron  First  both of  Monticello, IA.

Dona's funeral services will be held on Sunday,  October 19,  2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Monticello, Iowa. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the Wyoming Cemetery , Iowa. Dawson Funeral Services of Wyoming is caring for her family. St John's Monticello - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StJohnsMonticello An official livestream link for Dona's service will be available when we actually begin livestreaming it, 5-10 minutes before the service at 1 pm.

Online condolences may be left at www.dawsonfuneral.com.

Memorials may be directed in her honor to ALS Research and Abigayle Ministries.

https://www.abigayleministries.org/

Dona Funk tribute page ALS Association – Iowa https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/TR/DIY/NationalOffice?px=9339373&pg=personal&fr_id=1 6212

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.