Funke, Virginia L.

Virginia Lee Funke, known as Ginna, Gin, and Ginny, and formerly Ginger, passed away 22 February 2026 at the age of 86 at Mercy Hospital, Washington.

Ginna was born 29 December 1939 in St. Louis to Roy Lee Funke and Ruby May (Smith) Funke.

On 26 April 1958, she married Lloyd Richard Behrens. They had three children together but divorced in 1974, though they remained friends, especially in later life.

She was a devout Christian and a member of Trinity Lutheran church in New Haven.

Ginna was a talented artist, winning art scholarships in high school and working in the art department for the school paper. As an adult, she did custom portraits for people and designed and sewed her own clothes.

She held a variety of positions in her working life, including a secretarial job, salesperson for Transart, and district manager for Parents, Inc., but the work she enjoyed most was waiting tables, which she did for many years, and her time at Emmaus Homes, Inc. working with developmentally disabled adults, which she found the most rewarding.

Years ago, in her spare time, she enjoyed singing with local bands, fishing, plants, and playing guitar and piano. Dancing was another enjoyment. She did ballet, tap, jazz, and was so good at Spanish dancing that her instructor wanted her to solo the dance but she was just a bit too shy for that. She loved animals – especially horses, and volunteered for a time at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch. She also enjoyed her time in the Civil Air Patrol. She found flying exhilarating! She loved good food, game shows, playing cards, and spending time with family.

Her absence in our lives will be felt for many, many years to come.

Ginna is preceded in death by her parents, Roy (1991) and Ruby (2004), and her ex-husband, Lloyd (2017).

She is survived by her children, Eric Behrens, Yvonne Behrens, and Evan Behrens, all of Washington (originally St. Louis); her grandchildren, Kyle (Alisha) Behrens of Beaufort, Nicole (Jake) Rice of Sullivan, Isaiah Pierce of Springfield, Illinois, and Cherrice Behrens of Marthasville; seven great-grandchildren; and her sister, D. Jean Boeckelmann of St. Louis. She was also an aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, cousin, and friend.

The visitation will be March 7th at Kutis Funeral Home (Affton), 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis beginning at 9:00 am, with a service at 11:00 am and interment to follow at St. Trinity Cemetery, 2160 Lemay Ferry Rd, St. Louis.