He worked on several murals throughout Los Angeles in the Works Progress Administration. Funk served the United States Army, from 1943 to 1946 in Korea and Okinawa as a heavy anti aircraft artillery mechanic and instructor, warehouseman, and artist/publicist/graphic designer for special events at Headquarters Company, Asiatic Command. At the ASCOM University in Korea he was an instructor in pencil sketching. It was during his time in Korea that he developed a lifelong interest in Asian art.