Didn't know Jeff that well - only met him a handful of times - yet he was a big influence on my thinking as an artist. An artist's artists who taught people who taught people and whose influence is far-reaching - even if people don't realize it. Winnipeg and Canada have suffered a great loss.

I first met Jeff at Lithium Cafe which he cofounded with Walter Lewyc. It was a late night hangout for all manner of humanity, everyone was welcomed, accepted, everyone was cared for with hearty food and a non judgmental, warm environment where creativity thrived. Jeff and Walter made that happen.
Friends of mine lived in the same building as Jeff and we would visit his place often, sharing food, spliffs, laughs and ideas. We were his “outsider students” of art, music, film and life. We felt heard by Jeff, he was our guru at the time. He had the hair.
Over the last 40+ years we kept in touch, on and off, depending on the current of our lives. It was always interesting to be in his company, to see what he was creating, to hear his take on the politics and bs in the “artworld”.  He listened and became acutely aware of the inequality and injustices of our world and this informed some of his finest work.
During the pandemic he was a lifeline for me. He was in Winnipeg, I was in Vancouver, both solo… we would be hours on the phone, trying to figure it out and not freak out, drawing Trudeau Jr, talking of movies, sharing dreams, ordering no contact delivery food, not hanging up the phone. He was loosing his sight and it was a profound, unfair, struggle but he still had vivid memories of  movie scenes from films he’d seen as a kid that had impressed him. He adored movies, and cats. 
I miss his laugh, his warm voice, his endless curiosity, his love and his friendship. 

Condolences to his family.

Friend, mentor and unrelenting critic, Jeff taught me at the U of M and had a major impact on how I looked and understood art. He could be curmudgeonly but was always friendly and generous to his friends. Jeff worked constantly as an artist and while he eschewed promoting his own work he was admired by generations of Canadian artists. Humour was an important part of Jeff’s personality and in his art. 
I will miss him greatly.
Jon T

This is very sad news. Jeff was my drawing prof at the University of Manitoba back in the early nineties. Although I hadn't seen him in a couple years, I have fond memories of those days, gabbing about the art world over a couple beers at the University watering hole.  Many art riddles and heated debates were never solved on those nights of intoxicated genius. Jeff did come up with a plan though, to turn his office into a show space for students for a few years...creating the beginning of the OFF-ICE Gallery. He will be missed.
My condolences to the family.

Dan D

I have known Jeff since 1972 when he first arrived in Calgary and spoke with him 4 days before he passed away.  Jeff was one of kind:  smart as a whip, funny as could be when he wanted to be, laconic as fox, and in my opinion, the best artist in Canada.  High praise?   Yes but it's true.  We made three art video tapes  together and  although not commercial blockbusters, Jeff and  I were fond of telling people that even though they were "break throughs" they were too far ahead of their time to get much notice to say nothing of us being relegated to the art dust  bin.  Jeff's drawings as drawings are  terrific, the content of them original and insightful-qualities that I think were indicative as he was.  The mold was broken when he came along.  I will miss him.    John Will

OBITUARY

Jeffrey Alan Funnell

February 16, 1941 – November 23, 2024

Thomson In The Park Funeral Home and Cemetery

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