Ina Funkhouser

Ina Laree Funkhouser, a long-time resident of Rantoul, passed away at her daughter’s home in Scottsdale, AZ, on October 30, 2025, at the age of 96.

Ina was born in Forest, IL, on September 15, 1929. She was raised and supported mainly by her mother, Grace Davis Rasner Anderson. They lived in a series of homes in and around Champaign, IL. She graduated from Champaign High School in 1949. Ina married Robert F. Funkhouser on June 4th, 1950, and moved to Rantoul, IL, which she called her home for the next 65 years. After Robert passed in 2014, she divided her remaining years living with her granddaughter, Marlana Smith, in Rantoul, IL, and her daughter, Karen Canada, in Scottsdale, AZ.

Ina spent most of her early married life raising three daughters, in addition to offering care to other children in Rantoul before daycares were common. She was one of the first Nursery School teachers at the United Methodist Church through the late 60’s and early 70’s. Three-year-olds were her favorite age, and she enjoyed seeing the children grow up to become adults.

As her own daughters went off to college, Ina began working at Kraft Foods Inc., where she became a mother figure to a few of her fellow workers. After retiring from Kraft, she could be found out and about with either her grandchildren or, later, her great-grandchildren.

Growing flowers and plants in her yard was another of her pastimes. She shared a flower garden with her next-door neighbor for several years, and they were the garden of the week in August 2011.

Her home was a focal point for extended family gatherings for holidays and birthdays. The door was always open to friends and family. Later years saw her caring for her in-laws and eventually caring for her own parents in her home.

Ina was preceded in death by her daughters, Jane Funkhouser (April 9, 1953), Irene Elaine Quick (Dec. 14, 2003), Myra Jane Funkhouser (June 16, 2005), and her husband, Robert Francis Funkhouser (Oct. 19, 2014).

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Miles Canada; grandchildren, Katharine Canada, Kevin Canada, Marlana (Chad) Smith, and Marshall Quick; and great-grandchildren, Natalie and Madelyn Smith.

A Celebration of Ina’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 7th, 2025, at Sunset Funeral Home, Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E Grove Avenue, Rantoul, Illinois. Visitation of family and friends will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Cemetery in Urbana.

Please join Ina’s family in sharing memories, photos, and video on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com