Some family histories contain mostly bare-bone facts and are dry, but Abe Funk’s Johann contains human interest stories plus the facts, and this makes it attractive and easy reading. The author traveled to the Netherlands, and visited historic sites and museums in search of information about his roots and information about His great grandfather Johann Funk. He worked for more than 15 years gathering facts for this book and has come up with a treasure every relative will want.
Near the beginning of the book Abe Funk gently exposes a mystery in the life of his great grandfather by raising the questions: Who was Johann? Who were his parents? For generations the family did not talk about one aspect of the grandfather’s life. Abe Funk gently opens the door; and brings the truth from the shadows into the light.
In spite of an unusual beginning, God watched over Johann, loving him as he was, taking him into His family, caring for him and helping him become an effective father, a productive citizen and a community leader. Abe Funk is saying we can be proud of Johann and we can be proud of what God is able to accomplish through the Christian faith.
One of the values of this book is that it briefly takes us back to the beginnings of the Mennonite movement. Priest Menno Simons was dissatisfied with the corruption in the church and left around 1516 to become a Reformer. His followers became known as Mennonites, “followers of Menno.” Johann Funk became a member of this faith.
One has to admire the convictions of these people who longed for religious freedom and were willing to endure persecution and hardship because of their faith. Their determination led from the Netherlands to Prussia, Russia, the United States and Canada.
Johann homesteaded 30 km south east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan with four of his sons in 1906. This past June, 100 years later, the descendents placed a marker on the homestead and the cemetery where Johann is buried
This book reveals the author’s admiration and compassion for the people as he leads us through the difficult circumstances the pioneers were challenged with, building and then living in sod houses during the harsh prairie winters. The infant mortality rate was very high among these immigrants. There was a lack of good public health practices and facilities. Many infants and young mothers died. Their travels were littered with the graves of their wives and young children in Canada.
The book closes with the poem, The Village Blacksmith, by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In our imaginations “we can hear him” him addressing Johan Funk at work in his blacksmith shop:
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend.
For the lesson thou hast taught!
For at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.
Abe Funk has made this fine history available for the present and future generations. The book can also serve as a model for writing our own family histories.
