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...
KARL HAGEN
Jun 7, 2026
KARL HAGEN of Detroit Lakes, MN died June 7, 2026 at the age of 87. A funeral director since 1960, he worked for several local funeral homes in Elroy, WI before launching his own insurance company. In 1986, he purchased West Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2002. Hagen graduated from...
ROBERT “BOB” GRAY BETZER
Jun 5, 2026
ROBERT “BOB” GRAY BETZER of Delavan, WI died June 5, 2026 at the age of 82. He joined his father, Robert Sterling Betzer, at Betzer Funeral Home, as a third-generation funeral director. In the 1900s, Bob advocated funeral funding legislation that expanded consumers’ financing options. After selling the family business in 2020, he officially retired from the funeral industry in...
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...
JON MICHAEL STORK
May 28, 2026
JON MICHAEL STORK of Rugby, ND died May 28, 2026 at the age of 74. A licensed funeral director, he owned and operated Anderson Funeral Homes in Rugby and Towner, ND from 1999 to 2025. Stork previously worked in Minnesota at Mattson Funeral Home and Sturm Funeral Homes. He earned his degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota.
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...