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Gary Deiters, Funeral Director/Owner
Gary Deiters - Funeral Director and OwnerA native of Beckemeyer, IL, Gary graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1986. Immediately after graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1989, he began his career working in Central Illinois managing the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home & Cemetery and Monument Company. This opportunity allowed him to gain valuable experience and planted the seed on building his own Funeral Home. That dream became a reality when he opened Deiters Funeral Home in Washington, IL in 1999 and became the president. The business was expanded in 2004, when the East Peoria location was opened. In 2017, the business was split and Gary remains the President of the East Peoria facility. Gary currently resides in Washington, IL and is a member of St. Patrick Church. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Washington and is the Vice President of the Washington Rotary Club Foundation. He is also a member of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Leisure Acres Advisory Board and CFL Pre-Need Advisory Board. He is Chairman of the Flags of Washington and has played a critical role in various Veterans programs. He is a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Home Directors Association, CANA and is a Certified Crematory Operator. He previously held the position of president for the Washington Chamber of Commerce and East Peoria Kiwanis Club. He also served as the Police Commissioner in Washington. His hobbies include golf, cooking and travel. He has been a JFL coach and currently coaches basketball for the Washington Park District. Gary has a strong sense of family and is the seventh of eight children. He learned early on the impact of losing a loved one when his father was killed in a car accident, when he was 18 years old. Gary’s most important job that brings him enormous joy is his role as a father to his 5 children; Alexandria, Elizabeth, Luke, Clare and Isaac.
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Carol Ann and Doug Ogle, Funeral Assistant
Carol joined the Deiters family in November of 2005. Carol is a member of the First United Methodist Church in East Peoria, and is also a member of the Pimiteoui Hiking Club and is proud to be a Tazewell County Master Gardener. She and her husband Doug (married for 48 years) have one son, Ted Ogle, and 3 grandchildren, Samantha, Natalie, and Abbe.
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Steve Matheny, Funeral Assistant
Steve lives in East Peoria with his two daughters and has one son who is out of the house. He retired from Waste Management after a successful 25 year sales career. He enjoys golfing, riding a bike and swimming. He is active in the community participating in several not for profit organizations. His greatest joy is spending time with his daughters and playing with his granddaughter.
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Lexi Zellmer, Advance Planning Specialist
Lexi has been an advance planning specialist since 2011 when she became certified to work in the funeral industry. Over the past seven years, she has worked with hundreds of families to help them make end of life plans for themselves or loved ones.Lexi graduated from Illinois state university with a Communication Education major and a double minor in Psychology and English. She is a certified teacher and currently teaches part time at Illinois Central College, and keeps busy as the Poms and Dance Team coach in Dunlap school district.In her free time, she is involved with local events for CASA, St. Jude and Easterseales. She enjoys theater, the arts, the Cubs and traveling.
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Jeremy Thousand, Maintenance
