D.J. Funk

DJ Funk, author, artist, building designer, college lecturer, mediator, river morphologist & environmental planner.

Before DJ Funk began writing the epic tale about his mother in ‘Emilie’s Burden,’ he had been a Domestic Violence Counselor with RISE, a community-based nonprofit organization located in San Luis Obispo County. It was pure coincidence (or perhaps divine intervention) that, while researching his mother’s background, he discovered that his mother’s battle for her rights 50 years earlier had changed history for ALL woman victims of Domestic Violence. He had been a young child when his mother decided to take on the U.S. Government and the Assistant U.S. Attorney General and was unaware of the importance of Emilie's tense battle until many years later. Emilie died when DJ was only a teenager.

Discussed in Congress, universities, Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of the United States, Emilie Funk’s struggle for her rights as an abused wife resulted in groundbreaking changes in U.S. Laws, establishing some of the first standards that protected women and creating the concept of ‘Innocent Spouse Relief’ in the IRS Code. Emilie's struggle also provided a basis for the definition of ‘duress’ that has been used in countless Federal Court trials across the nation.

The author and former Executive Director of the US-LT Resource Conservation District, DJ Funk decided that helping victims and survivors of abusive partners was one of his passions. It was during his service to RISE that he discovered the importance of his own mother's struggles for her rights.

An accomplished writer of hundreds of technical documents addressing rivers, conservation and city planning issues which are so directly intertwined with our human existence on planet earth, Mr. Funk was also a Counselor assisting women who had been subjected to abuse. Mr. Funk knew that he needed to tell Emilie’s fascinating story in order that others would understand and benefit from learning the challenges of victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse.

COMMENTS ABOUT MR. FUNK, 'EMILIE’S BURDEN' and EMILIE:

“Amazing story and a great book.” Josephine

“Humbling story that rings Truth for Millions of Women” Catherine

Emilie “was beautiful both inside & out. There were times I cried, times that I cheered, & times I was proud all for a woman I never met but thanks to you I got to know. You are doing good work DJ I believe she'd be so proud of you for shining the light you are today.” Becky

Emilie “was a strong woman and a crusader!” Diane

"Thank you for sharing your mother's trailblazing journey that has helped so many #DVTBIVictims and #DVVictims. Her courage, strength and resilience give me HOPE to continue the fight!" Maria

"Wonderful that (Emilie) fought back & during the 50s! That took a lot of courage & determination” B.W.

Emilie “is a hero for all women” Carol

"What enters your heart is the directness, the vision, the clarity of that vision, and the love that drove her work." Lorna

Emilie "was a superstar." M.C.

"So thankful for (Emilie's) vision/advocacy." Kit

"Wow! (Emilie) was a superhero! And you carry on her spirit!!" Margaret