Joseph Wayne Funk

Joseph Wayne Funk, 74, of Mission, Texas, passed away on March 9, 2026, following complications from pneumonia.

Joe was born on February 28, 1952, in Winfield, Kansas, to Glenn and Glenda Funk. His family moved to South Texas when he was a young boy, and he grew up in San Juan, Texas. He graduated from PSJA High School in 1970, where he met the love of his life, Pamela Robbins, whom he would go on to marry and shared 50 wonderful years together.

Joe was a devoted husband and father. A quiet and humble man with deep intelligence, he carried wisdom in his silence and led by example. He loved his family fiercely and was always willing to help a friend in need. Joe was never one to boast about his accomplishments and often put others before himself, giving generously and offering help wherever it was needed.

He loved working with his hands and found great joy in creating, fixing, and dreaming up new projects. Whether renovating something around his own home or helping friends and family with theirs, he was happiest when building or improving something. Joe was known for his big heart, his appreciation for a job well done, and his habit of being a “big tipper,” his way of letting people know their efforts were valued. A man of strong determination and impeccable work ethic, whatever job Joe took on, he gave it his full effort.

Joe also had a love for music and enjoyed listening to a wide variety of genres. He was an avid skier and treasured the many ski trips he took with his family over the years, creating memories on the slopes that brought him great joy. He also enjoyed going thrifting and had a special appreciation for vintage items, always finding value and character in things with a story.

Joe built a long and respected career in the electric utility and energy industry. He began with Central Power & Light (CP&L) in Pharr, Texas, starting as a lineman helper and eventually working his way up to Supervisor of the Engineering Department, a role that moved his family to Harlingen, Texas, in the 1980s. While working full time and raising a young family, Joe also pursued higher education, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas. In the late 1990s, Joe chose to retire early from CP&L, beginning a new chapter of work and adventure. His career took him to San Antonio, Arizona, and even Iraq, where he helped build electrical substations. He later served as Regional Manager for Mott MacDonald in The Woodlands, Texas, where he worked for several years before retiring for the final time.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Glenda Funk, his beloved wife Pamela Robbins Funk, his brother Jeffrey Funk, and his sister Teresa Murden.

He is survived by his daughters and grandchildren: Melissa Stakes of Kingwood, Texas, and her children Wesley and Carson; Stephanie Watson and her husband Chad of Montgomery, Texas, and her sons Hunter and Colton; and Amy Cantu of Montgomery, Texas, and her daughter Taylor.

Joe is now reunited with his beloved wife, Pamela — a reunion that brings comfort to all who loved them both.

In keeping with Joe’s wishes and his quiet, private nature, there will be no formal funeral service. His family instead chooses to honor and remember him in the everyday moments — through acts of kindness, lending a helping hand, appreciating life’s simple joys, listening to good music, or tackling the next project with determination, just as Joe so often did.

Though he never sought recognition, Joe’s kindness, hard work, and the love he gave so freely will continue to be felt by all who knew him.

Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.