Born in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, Funk attended the public schools and the Illinois Normal School at Normal, Illinois. He was graduated from the Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in 1888 and from Yale University in 1891. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and livestock production in Bloomington, Illinois, member of the Illinois Republican State central committee 1906-1912.
Funk was born in Bloomington, Illinois, where he attended local schools and later studied at the Illinois Normal School. He went on to graduate from the prestigious Lawrenceville School in New Jersey in 1888 and Yale University in 1891. In his early career, Funk focused on farming and livestock production in Bloomington, while also serving as a member of the Illinois Republican State central committee from 1906 to 1912.