Rev. Ludwig G. F. H. "Louis" Funcken^[1]

1833 - 1890  (56 years)

• Name	Ludwig G. F. H. "Louis" Funcken
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	5 Oct 1833	Wankum, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Priest and Teacher
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	RC
  Died	30 Jan 1890	Roermond, , Limburg, Netherlands   [1, 3]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Name	Louis Funcken
  Name	Ludwig Funcken
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-138732
  Person ID	I138732	Generations
  Last Modified	30 Sep 2024

  
  

• Photos		Louis Funcken
  		THE LATE VERY REV. LOUIS G.F.H. FUNCKEN

  
  

• Notes

  THE LATE VERY REV. LOUIS G.F.H. FUNCKEN, was born on the 5th Oct., 1833, at Wankcum, Prussia. He was ordained priest at Roermond, Holland, on the 15th of June, 1862. He graduated as Doctor of Divinity at the Roman University, Sapienza, on the 11th of June 1864. He emigrated to Canada the same year in which he graduated, arriving at St. Agatha, Ont., on the 1st of September 1864. Father Funcken was the founder of St. Jerome's College, Berlin an institution of learning for Roman Catholic youths, which was opened for the reception of pupils on the 10th of September, 1866. The Rev. Father Spetz has been president of this institution for two years, and was a professor for a number of years. Father Funcken assumed the pastorate of St. Mary's Church, Berlin in September, 1866, where he continued until his return to Holland. In 1888 he was appointed Provincial of the "Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord." he celebrated his silver jubilee of priesthood in 1887. Father Funcken returned to Roermond, Holland, where, January 30th, 1890, he passed away, comforted with the last sacraments of the Church. Men of Canada 1901 ____________________________ The Rev. Louis Funcken founded St. Jerome's College in 1865 in the small Waterloo County village of St. Agatha. A native of Holland, he studied to become a druggist, but decided to change his occupation and chose the priesthood. He entered a seminary and obtained his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1864. He came to St. Agatha in the same year. St. Jerome's was moved in 1866 to Berlin where the larger population seemed to promise faster progress. Father Funcken guided the College through years of great struggle and from 1871 to 1878 was the only priest at the institution. To ease its financial burdens he went on a six month lecture tour of the northern United States, raising a very substantial sum. He overcame great difficulties that would have intimidated a lesser man. In later life, for health reasons, Father Funcken returned to Holland where he died. Waterloo Region Hall of Fame _________________ Father Louis Funcken was a founder of the Congregation of the Resurrection and also the founder of St. Jerome's College. From 1866 to 1890, he was pastor of the adjoining parish of St. Mary's. In 1890, the alumni association of St. Jerome's College began raising funds for a commemorative statue of Father Funcken. The model for the young boy in the sculpture was Reinhold Lang, a local resident. Since completion in 1907, the sculpture has moved three times; first located in a garden on the college grounds, it was moved to another area of the college property, from there to St. Mary's Church in 1990, and finally to its present site in 1991. DowntownKitchener.ca 2011 ______________________ He was in the 27th year of his priesthood and the 25th year of his membership in the order.

  
  

• Sources

  [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 6 Feb 1890. Jan30, 1890 Dr. Ludwig Funcken, C. R., of Berlin, died in Roermond, Holland at age of 56 years, 3 months & 20 days, in the 27th year of his priesthood & the 25th year of his membership in the order. (poem follows) [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 53. [S1116] Book - Men of Canada 1901, Profile of Louis G. F. H. Funcken pg 468. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Oct 1833 - Wankum, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Occupation - Priest and Teacher - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - RC - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 30 Jan 1890 - Roermond, , Limburg, Netherlands Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth