DOUGLAS VERNON HAMILTON
Jun 8, 2026
DOUGLAS VERNON HAMILTON of Marshall, MN died June 8, 2026 at the age of 77. He worked alongside Dick Birk in the Canby area, and in 1986 they founded the Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home in Marshall. In 2003, Hamilton purchased the business and renamed it Hamilton Funeral Home. He continued serving families throughout southwest Minnesota for more than 30 years, retiring...
MARILYN A. DELIBERATO
Jun 5, 2026
MARILYN A. DELIBERATO of Independence, OH died June 5, 2026 at the age of 83. She owned and operated Golubski Deliberato Funeral Home for more than 50 years.
KENNETH R. HOFMEISTER
Jun 2, 2026
KENNETH R. HOFMEISTER of Parker, SD died June 2, 2026 at the age of 68. A third-generation licensed funeral director, he founded Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls and owned and operated Hofmeister Funeral Home in Parker. Hofmeister graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science.
WILLIAM “BILL” GEORGE DANEKAS SR
Jun 1, 2026
WILLIAM “BILL” GEORGE DANEKAS SR of Colville, WA died June 1, 2026 at the age of 83. He completed his apprenticeship under the guidance of Hap and Katherine Smith at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside. After spending a decade at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home in Spokane Valley, he and his wife, Dianne, purchased Moser Funeral Chapel in Colville in 1976. Bill...
SPENCER LEAK JR
May 31, 2026
SPENCER LEAK JR of Chicago, IL died May 31, 2026 at the age of 56. A third-generation funeral director since 1989, he began his career working alongside his father, Spencer Leak Sr., at the family business. He later became vice president of Leak & Sons Funeral Home, a firm founded by his grandfather, the Rev. A.R. Leak, in 1933. He...
TIMOTHY KOWALSKI
May 27, 2026
TIMOTHY KOWALSKI of Chicago, IL died May 27, 2026 at the age of 75. A graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, he joined the faculty in the 1980s and, over a distinguished 35-year teaching career, helped shape generations of funeral directors and embalmers, earning the endearing nicknames “Cobra” and “Special K” from his students.
ROBERT F. “BOB” VANDENBERGH
May 26, 2026
ROBERT F. “BOB” VANDENBERGH of Rochester, MI died May 26, 2026 at the age of 78. A licensed funeral director since 1969, he became a partner and later served as president and CEO of Fred H. Kaul Funeral Homes, Inc., which operated locations in Roseville, Clinton Township, and St. Clair Shores. Bob earned a degree in mortuary science from Wayne...
JAY ARTHUR BECK
May 23, 2026
JAY ARTHUR BECK of St. Clairsville, OH died May 23, 2026 at the age of 78. A third-generation licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1971, he began helping his father, Arthur, at Beck Funeral Home before serving his apprenticeship and eventually becoming owner. He continued in that role until the funeral home was acquired by Altmeyer Funeral Homes and Crematory in...
JOEL F. JEROME
May 21, 2026
JOEL F. JEROME of Westfield Center, OH died May 21, 2026 at the age of 74. He was a longtime funeral director and embalmer at Ripepi Funeral Home in Parma, OH.
ERIC PAUL ROCHETTE
May 12, 2026
ERIC PAUL ROCHETTE of Nashua, NH died May 12, 2026 at the age of 55. A second-generation funeral director for 35 years, he began working alongside his father, Paul, at the former Anctil-Rochette & Son Funeral Home in Nashua in 1991. He later purchased the business and renamed it Rochette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. He and his wife, Deanna,...