Funke Family Endowed Scholarship

Joseph B. Funke, Born in Prussia, came to America in 1853. Settling in Reads Landing, Minnesota, where he and his wife, Elizabeth Lampe of Galena, Illinois, had eleven children. Their oldest son Joseph B. Funke came to La Crosse in 1883 and founded the Funke and Schreir Candy Company, in 1889. Two of his brothers, Frank N. and William H. Funke came to La Crosse to join him in the business, which became the Joseph B. Funke Candy Company. Joseph and his wife Pauline had no children. Frank N. had one son Frank Jr. and William H. and his wife Malinda had six children, Anna Elizabeth (Billy), George M., Robert J., Mary C., Joseph B., and William H.
Joseph B. Funke had a great interest in the young people that worked at the candy company in the early 1900’s. Many of these youth quit school at an early age so that they could earn money. He backed the idea of compulsory education and vocational training for the state. When the La Crosse Vocational School was established in 1912 he became the first board president. He served as president of the board, except for a short period of time, until his death in 1930.
Mary and Robert Funke attended the school in the 1940’s. Mary is the wife of William G. Welch retired Dean of the Technology Division and mother of William Jr. electronics instructor at Western. William and Mary Funke Welch established the scholarship.