Having both a passion for their work and a desire to be closer to family, Gary and Stephanie Deiters acted upon the opportunity to provide the communities of Washington and East Peoria with a better funeral service option. Their dream of funeral home ownership became a reality with the opening of their facility in Washington in 1999. Built on the principals of service, facility, and price, Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory has continued to grow in its service to the community.

After seeing a steady incline in the number of families served from East Peoria, the Deiters built a new facility located at 444 E. Washington Street in East Peoria, intending to offer the same first-class service, facility and competitive pricing found at their Washington facility. This facility was completed, and opened its doors, in May of 2005.

Gary and Stephanie are proud to offer the only family-owned funeral home in the East Peoria community, and continue to be actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the business. Each enjoys different aspects of the operation, and both care deeply for the families that they have cared for over the past seven years.

Community involvement is a very important aspect of Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory. Both Gary and Stephanie have a personal connection with veterans, and illustrate their commitment with service. This includes:

Initiating the Annual Veterans Day Program in Washington
Supporting the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. through the proceeds of the Veterans Day Program
Memorial Day Route 8 Flag Presentation

They are also both very proud to sponsor:

The Marine Luncheon
A Veterans History Project with a local grade school
The Veterans Night at the Symphony

Other funeral home activities include:

Tours and programs for various schools, hospices, and organizations
The After Prom re-enactment at the local high school
Book donations to various community libraries
Numerous conventions and meetings to better educate their staff on changes in funeral service.

We long realized the importance of giving back to the communities that have embraced us since we began, and we want you to know that we're here to help when you need us. Both our locations provide families in Washington and East Peoria with great service, first-class facilities, and reasonable prices. View our facilities or get driving directions here.

Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory is also a proud recipient of the NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award in 2004 and 2005.

Gary and Stephanie Deiters

Gary Deiters - President, Funeral Director
Raised in Beckemeyer, Il, Gary graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He is currently the president of the Rotary Club of Washington, a member of the Kiwanis Club of East Peoria and St. Patrick Church in Washington, and served on the Leisure Acres Advisory Board. He also serves as a former Police Commissioner for the City of Washington. He enjoys golfing, cooking, and spending time with he and Stephanie’s five children: Ally, Elizabeth, Luke, Clare, and Isaac.

Stephanie Deiters - Funeral Director
Stephanie is a Washington, IL native and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. She is currently a member of the Carl Sandburg Mortuary Science Advisory Board, St. Patrick Church in Washington, and the Washington Leadership Challenge and Superintendants Advisory Board, both at Washington Community High School. She serves a an IFDA Regional Director. She is also an active participant in the Peoria Humane Societies “Paws to Read” program, with the Deiters family dog, Nacho. She enjoys travel, baking, reading, and attending their kids various activities.

Chris and Dana Leman

Chris was born and raised in Danvers, IL and was a graduate of Olympia High School. He later graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1996. He worked in the funeral industry in Central Illinois until 2003 when he moved to Morris, Minnesota where he owned and managed the Pomme de Terre Golf Club. He joined Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in May of 2011.

Chris and his wife Dana have two children: Payton and Reese. They attend Riverside Community Church in Peoria. He enjoys golf, hunting and spending time with his family outdoors. He is a Charter member of Washington Kiwanis Club.

Madison Fox
Funeral Director


Bethany Legge Funeral Director Apprentice

	Shari joined Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory staff in November 2009. Prior to this, she worked for Washington School District 50 for 9 years, most recently in the office at Beverly Manor School. She is a member of Faith Christian Centre where she enjoys teaching children''s church. Shari and her husband, Kevin, have 2 daughters, Kayla and Courtney.
Shari Parker Administrative Assistant

Bruce started his career with Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory as a funeral assistant before going back to school to become a funeral director. He graduated from the Carl Sandburg College Mortuary Science program in May of 2004. An Air Force veteran, Bruce’s first career had been with Illinois Central College as the Director of Computer Services. He is a member of the First Federated Church in Peoria, the Ivy Club and Arrowhead Country Club. He and his wife, Trish, have 2 daughters, Sarah Blake and Elizabeth Owens and 5 grandchildren.

Bruce and Trisha Fordyce
Funeral Assistant

Before becoming one of the first employees at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory back in 1999, Ken served as the Superintendent at School District 51 in Washington before he retired in 1998. Ken is member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and has served as a board member for the Washington Fire and Rescue Squad (15 years) and Planning Commission (14 years). He is currently the Township Supervisor, which he has held for 10 years, and is also involved with the Illinois River Valley Council of Governments. He and his wife Mary Jo have 2 children, Jill and Chris, as well as 6 grandchildren.

Kenneth G. and Mary Jo Holford
Funeral Assistant

	Ken, also one of Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory's first employees, was involved in education for 38 years in Washington , retiring as a middle school principal in 1997. He and his wife, Karen, are members of St. Patrick’s Church in Washington. Ken is also a member of the St. Pat’s Knights of Columbus. Ken and Karen have 4 children—Janet, Tom, Marie and Jean, as well as 10 grandchildren.
Ken and Karen Gisleson Funeral Assistant

Earl has been with us since April of 2005 but prior to this, he was a Kroger Warehouse Supervisor for 30 years and also spent some time with Caterpillar, Inc. He and his wife Carol have been members at St. Patrick Church in Washington for 41 years. Earl is also a 3rd and 4th degree knight with the Knights of Columbus. They have 2 sons, Joseph and Danny, 1 daughter, Jeannie Church, and 4 grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Brooke and Jaden.

Earl W. and Carol Lee
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.
Carol Ann and Doug Ogle Funeral Assistant

Jerry started with Deiter's Funeral Home and Crematory in February 2012. Prior to that Jerry served with the East Peoria Police Department for 31 years retiring as a sergeant. Jerry and Ronna are active members of First English Lutheran Church in Peoria where they teach high school bible study and are also involved with Heart of Illinois Via de Cristo. Jerry enjoys cooking, fishing, photography and gardening. Jerry and his wife Ronna have been married for more than 36 years and have two sons, Chris and Rob and five grandchildren, Levi, Abagail, Ian, Emma and Claire.

Jerry and Ronna James
Funeral Assistant

	The “Jack-Of-All-Trades” at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory, Roger started with us in July of 2005 after spending 31 years at Caterpillar, Inc. He and his wife Zoe are members at Gamber Cove/Crystal Lakes Inc. and have been fishing and camping in the Galesburg area since 1991. They have 1 daughter, Stefanie and 2 grandchildren, Malori Jo and Alix, and one great-granddaughter.
Roger and Zoe Tate Maintenance

Nacho joined the Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory family in May of 2009. He was born in March of 2008 to two yellow Labrador leader dogs, who both worked for the Leader Dogs for the Blind program. After vigorous training for his first fifteen months, he was deemed with a minor physical issue that caused him an early retirement. Our family has been so blessed to have such a beautiful and smart dog join our work and family life. He and Stephanie have since completed his Therapy Dog certification in the past year. Nacho also embraces his role as a grief therapy dog to those whom have lost a beloved pet and use Deiters Pet Services and Pet Crematory.

Nacho Deiters
Therapy Dog