Wilbert Funk, longtime umpire and dedicated member of the Baseball Manitoba community, has passed away at the age of 92.
Wilbert umpired for more than 40 years in all categories in Altona, MB and the surrounding area in the 1970s. He umpired 73 games during the year he turned 73, and it is estimated that he umpired an impressive 2500 games during his entire career.
Wilbert also played fastball as a pitcher for more than 20 years until he lost his right hand in an industrial accident in 1970. Following the accident, umpiring with no right hand became Wilbert’s famous trademark with baseball players and fans. He enjoyed umpiring younger categories, but also coached minor ball for several years. Wilbert was honoured as Altona’s Citizen of the Year in 1998 for his lifelong contribution to sports and quality of life, especially for young people, in the community. He was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
All of us at Baseball Manitoba send our deepest condolences to the Funk family and his entire community at this time.
There will be no funeral, however there will be a time for friends to attend a viewing, date(s) and time(s) are yet to be determined. Wilbert’s family encourages you to honour his memory by sharing stories about Wilbert with your children and grandchildren.
Learn more about Wilbert on the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame website here.
