GINTER: Jodi Lynn (nee Funk) – passed away peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2022 at the Grand River Hospital, Kitchener. Jodi Ginter of Bright and formerly of Steinbach, Manitoba in her 42nd year.
Loving mother of Joseph Ginter of Bright. Dear daughter of Karen Funk and husband Russ Critendon of Bright. Survived by her brother Shane & Mandy Funk and their children Jaleel and Mia of Grunthal, Manitoba.
Predeceased by her father Tim Funk.
Private funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Glendinning Funeral Home, Plattsville. In lieu of flowers, donations directed to her son Joseph would be gratefully appreciated and can be sent directly to the family or to the funeral home.
A special tiny baby girl arrived 6 weeks ahead of schedule on December 14, 1980 to her parents, Tim and Karen Funk. She was received with loving care and special attention, first in the hospital and then at home. Jodi Lynn came into a home and was carefully watched over by her older brother, Shane.
She royally took her place as the first granddaughter to her grandparents, Harold and Esther Gerbrandt and the first niece to her five aunts and an adoring uncle who doted on her, to whom she responded with great gusto! There was no lack of love and attention from Peter and Nettie Funk and family as well, and she settled into the Funk neighborhood with her cousins and playmates surrounding her. The cousins enjoyed many activities together – dolls, building teepees and forts in the bush, dress-up, much giggling, recording hours of songs they composed spontaneously, eventually singing and performing a song as cousins at family gatherings and Funk concerts… Life was wonderful!
Jodi came to know Jesus as her Savior as a young girl, and at the age of 10 she experienced her first close up taste of loss, when her beloved Grandpa Gerbrandt left his physical body and its cancer, to go to his eternal home. This was devastating, as she longed to be with Grandpa and Jesus. At this point, we chose to homeschool Jodi so that we could help her through this troubling emotional time.
Jodi and her brother continued to be homeschooled for the remainder of their elementary and high school years. This opened up another wonderful world of friends and activities. Jodi and Shane were involved in the 4-H Beef Club, raising and training these large beasts over the winter, to show and sell them in summer. A homeschooling 4-H Club began, through which Jodi participated in the mandatory speech-giving, as well as projects such as Sewing, Outdoor Cooking, Photography… together with numerous new homeschooling friends. Field trips, Gym, skating, concerts, programs and finally graduation, were events put together by this group. This was a very positive and enjoyable part of Jodi’s pre-teen and teen years.
Throughout these years, Jodi had pain in her joints, traveling from one joint to another. At the age of 15 she was diagnosed with lupus. This presented challenges but we chose to live day by day in faith and not fear. Jodi was blessed artistically, enjoying sketching, painting, always trying out seemingly endless creative ways through which she could express herself and share her love for dramatic beauty with others. Her talents also extended to poetic writing in which she poured out her heart in very descriptive ways. Jodi loved meeting people, making new friends easily, and her compassionate heart was quickly moved to help others in need.
The time came when Jodi met a wonderful young man while working at her first job. Steve and Jodi were baptized on the confession of their faith and were married soon after. Wedded bliss was difficult to maintain as Jodi lost 2 babies in succession due to lupus and unfortunately, depression followed. Around the time Jodi’s father passed away in 2004, another baby was attempting to come to birth. Miraculously, he did – 3 months early, when Joseph Timothy made his entrance into the world. He has been a source of great joy, lots of love and cuddles and “meows,” a very tender, quietly caring son
In late 2008, Jodi and Joseph moved to Ontario and spent eight years in a family relationship with friend, Bill Benoit. He was committed to Jodi and lovingly helped her through many low seasons of health He cared for Joseph, and they became quite attached to Bill’s children as well.
In 2019, Jodi and Joseph moved back to Manitoba to reconnect with family, but due to Covid restrictions they were isolated in their apartment most of the time. This contributed to a downward spiral in Jodi’s health and emotional wellbeing. With Jodi spending considerable time in the hospital, we journeyed to be with Joseph and what started out to be a visit turned into a trip to move them back to Ontario with us. We had not heard Jodi’s desperate cry for help, but God did!
This move for Jodi meant a complete commitment to seek God and follow His path for her life, and she became devoted to Him and to her son. God brought Jodi and Joseph to live in the midst of the Return Ministries family that loved and prayed for these two precious people for years. God also led them into a special, life-filled church family, Trumpet of Truth Christian Ministries, through which He brought more foundation in the Word, new friends, and much encouragement. This was uplifting, and even though the effects of lupus and associated complications made her life very difficult, Jodi fed on the Word and became confident of God’s healing power and she continued to fight the good fight of faith
After a period of protracted ill health, Jodi entered the hospital April 30, where doctors did everything humanly possible. Jodi left her physical body, released from her pain and physical restraints on Friday, May 13th and has gone on to that perfect place of healing, wholeness and the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ! We are rejoicing, so thankful for her faith and love for God Who brought her through many difficult years -thankful that the painful journey has now become an eternity of incredible wonder in His Presence.
We gratefully acknowledge all the efforts by the medical staff in Grand River Hospital where she spent her last days. At the time, Jodi expressed much appreciation for the excellent care she was receiving. We also extend our thanks to the medical teams in London and Hamilton, Steinbach and Winnipeg, who all did their best to help Jodi in her health challenges throughout the years.
We thank all of you who have known Jodi – for the blessing, encouragement and friendship you have extended to her and for all the prayers you have prayed on her behalf. God is faithful!
We look forward with great anticipation to being gathered together to join her and many others in worship and adoration of our Great King forever and ever!
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jodi Lynn GINTER Funk 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Plattsville, Province: Ontario