YUKON – A funeral service is set for 2 p.m. Monday, July 28, at Crossings Community Church for Oklahoma businessman Robert “Bob” A. Funk Sr.
Funk, 85, died at his home on July 15. He was co-founder and executive chairman of Oklahoma City-based Express Employment International. Funk was also famous for his advocacy and philanthropy.
Funk’s sun, Bob Funk Jr., announced his father’s death on social media, writing “It is with deep sorrow that I share the passing of my dad and longtime leader, Bob Funk Sr. Dad was a true original in every sense of the word. A bold entrepreneur, a tireless advocate for people, and a man who embodied the spirit of the American West. With his signature cowboy hat and unshakable determination, he helped build Express into what it is today: a beacon of hope.”
Funk’s life and work was praised by state leaders.
Gov. Kevin Stitt describing Funk as a great conservative leader, a champion of capitalism and a friend. “He believed in faith, freedom and the power of hard work. And he lived it every day,” Stitt wrote.
State Treasurer Todd Russ called Funk a pillar of Oklahoma’s business and philanthropic community.
“His vision, work ethic, and generosity left a lasting mark on our state. From helping Oklahomans find meaningful work to supporting rural development and preserving our Western heritage, his impact will be felt for generations. We take comfort in the words of Scripture: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,” Russ said in a media statement.
Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, a Republican from Tuttle, said Oklahoma has lost one of its greatest champions.
“Bob Funk, a man whose deep faith, strong family values and unshakable belief in the free market defined his extraordinary life and legacy,” Paxton said in a media statement. “Bob embodied the entrepreneurial spirit. From founding Express Employment Professionals and creating jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, to building one of the most successful ranch operations in the country, his work ethic and vision were unmatched. He believed in opportunity, in rewarding hard work and in giving people the tools they needed to succeed.”
In addition to establishing Express Employment International in 1983, Funk also owned Express Ranches, Express Clydesdales, Express Sports, Funk Companies and Express UU Bar Ranches. He was recognized as the largest registered beef producer and the largest registered Angus cattle producer in the United States.
Funk served as the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City from 2006 to 2007. In 2007, he also held the role of chairman of the Conference of Chairmen for the Federal Reserve Bank System. Throughout his career, Funk also served as chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma Youth Expo.
In 2016, a life-sized statue of Funk on a horse was unveiled and dedicated at the Funk Express Ranch near Yukon, along the Chisholm Trail. In 2017, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. According to his biography, he was born in Duvall, Washington, and graduated from Seattle Pacific University and completed his graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Seattle Pacific University, Oklahoma Baptist University and Southern Nazarene University.
Funk was also named Most Admired CEO by The Journal Record, Man of the Year by Impact OKC Magazine and inducted into the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame and the Sales and Marketing Executives International Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was inducted into the Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame.
“Dad’s legacy lives on in the culture he helped create, in the lives he changed, and in the values he instilled in this organization,” Funk Jr. wrote. Although his passing leaves a profound void, his example of courage, generosity, and perseverance will guide us forward.”