Romaine D. Funches (Lansing)

Mr. Romaine Donnell Funches passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Sparrow Health System - Sparrow Campus in Lansing, Michigan. Age 44 years. He was born on January 6, 1976 in Lansing, Michigan; the son of Brenda Joyce Funches.

Romaine attended school in the Lansing School District and received his high school diploma in June 1994. Following high school, Romaine followed his dream of becoming a Fire Fighter and after attending classes and training, was awarded a “Certification of Training” for a Fire Fighter 1 by the State of Michigan, Fire Fighters Training Counsel, in November 1996, which started him on his journey. Our family was so proud of Romaine for his perseverance, as his beloved mother lost her battle with polio during this time, and was not there to celebrate with him at the ceremony; and until the day Romaine was reunited with his mother in Heaven, he mourned her loss deeply every day. Subsequently, after an injury that disabled him, Romaine had to re-imagine his future as a Fire Fighter.

Romaine was a fun-loving person and was a friend to all who knew him. He was so proud of his children and loved them to the moon and back! Romaine was a wonderful father, spending most of his time with his children, traveling all over the United States. He traveled and shared some fun and special memories with his best friends for life and thus he became the “life of the party”. Romaine’s light burned brightly and was distinguished too soon. Our family and Romaine’s friends loved him unconditionally and will miss him in so many ways! No one and nothing will ever take his place in our hearts because this is how he will live on in this life, forever. Check out Romaine’s Face Book page where he detailed his daily life and travels.

Romaine leaves to cherish precious memories his only son, Anthony; daughters, Jasmin Lee of Dallas, Texas, Janaya, Aleia Joyce, and Naveah; sister, Alicia Taylor; aunts, Dianne Herbin, Carol (James) Anthony, Debra Hughes, all of Lansing, Michigan, Linda Funches of Arizona, and Geneva Curtis of Toledo, Ohio; uncles; Frank X and Simial Funches, both of Lansing, Michigan; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, other relatives and friends, including special friend, Samantha Rinehart and special lifelong friends, Lt. Col. Andrew Morton, Marlon Morton, Ali Jones, and Randy Joy.

He was proceeded in death by his mother; grandparents, Alma and Walter Funches; uncles, Larry Donnell Funches and Walter Funches, Jr.; and great-great grandmother, Willie Mae “Sugardoo” Jackson.