Kelley (Funke) Knockel of rural Osterdock

Kelley (Funke) Knockel, 34, of rural Osterdock, passed away on October 10, 2026, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Visitation will be held from 2 – 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg. Visitation will continue prior to funeral mass from 9 – 10 a.m. on Saturday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg, Iowa. Burial will be held at a later date. Rev. David Schatz will officiate.

Kelley was born in November 10, 1991, to Dan and Joyce Funke at RMC in Manchester. She grew up outside of Petersburg, as a strong-willed, independent, competitive human with a very short supply of patience, mane of red hair, and temper to match. A 2010 graduate of Beckman High School where she was a talented athlete and had a great love for softball. She committed to Loras College to play softball before realizing her true dream and enrolled in La James Cosmetology School in Iowa City. She experienced all things a college town has to offer and landed her first job at Blaze Salon working for Bobby Thompson in Cedar Rapids. As a mentor, he lit her passion for hair color and began her journey in making herself and others beautiful.

After meeting the love of her life Josh Knockel at the Dam Bar in Guttenberg, she returned home and held various jobs. Josh and Kelley found their home in the beautiful rolling hills of Osterdock. When she became allergic to hair dye, she found her second love as an optician at Woodland Eye Clinic. Here her coworkers became a second family, adding to the joys of everyday life.  Kelley spent her days helping people see the world a little more clearly, giving her time, humor, honesty and once again making people beautiful through eyewear. 

Kelley lit up every room she walked into. She embraced change, often pulling others into her whirlwind to something new. She lived life on her own terms – with a strong heart, a sharp sense of humor, a personality that was anything but ordinary, and just enough of a rebel to be unapologetically herself. 

Kelley found joy in the simple things: an iced coffee in her hand, music turned up, an open road ahead of her, the rumble of a Harley, time spent outdoors, cooking for the people she loved, and making memories with her family. She was a fun lover and had a soft spot for adventure, chasing the sun, always on the lookout for a new pair of shoes, le-o-pard anything, beauty product, or a tattoo that called to her. 

She was a devoted wife and fiercely protective mom. Her family was her greatest accomplishment, her greatest source of pride, and the people she loved more than anything in this world. Kelley didn’t live a quiet life; she lived a full one. She loved hard. She laughed loudly. She fought for the people she loved. She made mistakes, learned lessons, changed, grew, and kept moving forward. Her story was never about being perfect. It was about being Kelley. And that was more than enough. 

And if there is one thing she would want everyone to remember, it would probably be this: Don’t waste your life worrying about what everybody else thinks. Love your people. Make the memories. Take the ride. Drink the damn coffee. And never apologize for being exactly who you are. 

She leaves behind a husband who knew the woman behind the toughness, children who will carry her love with them for the rest of their lives, family and friends who were lucky enough to know her, and countless memories that will continue to make people laugh, cry and shake their heads. 

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Josh; son, Eric and daughter, Brooklynn; parents, Dan and Joyce Funke; brother, Chad (Nicole) Funke; nieces: Abigail and Savannah; parents-in-law, Roxy and Leonard Knockel, sisters-in-law: Amy Knockel and Lindsey Knockel; brothers-in-law: Terry Knockel and Scott (Rachel) Knockel; nieces and nephews: Tessa, Tristan, Harley, Scottie, Nash and Piper; grandmother-in-law, Rose Baker; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, John and Lois Lansing; paternal grandparents, Art and Doris Funke; Uncle Ron Funke; grandparents-in-law, Jim and Arletta Hankes and Allen “Sarge” Baker. 

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.