Linda Funkhauser

Linda Funkhauser
October 24, 1940 - October 18, 2026

Linda Funkhauser passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on October 18, just shy of her 86th birthday.

Linda was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the only child of Algie and Doris Rink. She spent most of her life in the area and started her family at a young age. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School after the birth of her first child, then carried on down the path of motherhood. Smart, stubborn, and witty as could be, Linda made her family her career. She had five children between the ages of 17 and 41, and she liked to joke that this was what kept her young.

Linda was always ready for a good time. She kept in touch with friends from every chapter of her life, and she never met a stranger. She would often run into people out and about and stop to chat. She befriended many of her children's friends over the years, too, and they were always glad to see Linda and hear her crazy, interesting stories. You rarely walked away from her without a smile, a laugh, or a shake of your head at whatever she had to tell you about her day. We will miss hearing her "I'll tell ya..." and "alright" at family get-togethers.

Anyone who knew Linda knew she loved clothes, and especially anything in animal print, leopard above all. She was a seamstress most of her life and made clothes, stuffed animals, prom dresses, curtains, and almost anything her kids asked for. As much fun as it was to have custom pieces made by Mom, her children can also tell you about the hours spent in fabric stores with her, and sometimes her mother, picking out patterns and material and begging her to hurry up!

Linda was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Ron, who passed a little over a year before her. She is survived by her children John (Michelle), Susan (Don), Ronee (Ben), Carrie (Scott), and Ashley (Corey); her grandchildren Rachel (Cody), Erica, Lauren, Colin, Morgan (Cleo), Olivia, Isabella, Daniel, Sophia, and Joseph; and her great-grandchildren Harlow and Everett.

Everyone is welcome to join Linda's family for a luncheon and celebration of her life at the Council Bluffs Country Club on Friday, November 6, from noon to 3:00 p.m. Remarks from family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m. To share in the quirkiness that was Linda, feel free to wear animal print in her memory. Memorials can be directed to the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.