funeral director, owner, father of funeral directors Scott Klaassen and Kurt Klaassen, and brother of funeral director Dann Klaassen – all of Klaassen Family Funeral Home, Grand Haven, Michigan – died March 17, 2026, at age 84.

Klaassen attended Muskegon Community College and the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, and he began his career at Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven. In time, he purchased the funeral home and added the Spring Lake, Michigan, location. Years later, he built the present funeral home in Grand Haven.

A member of Second Christian Reformed Church, Klaassen served as both a deacon and elder.

He served as city councilman and mayor pro tempore, and on the Salvation Army Advisory Board for more than 45 years.

Klaassen was a chaplain for the Grand Haven Area Jaycees, a charter secretary for the Grand Haven Lions Club and a former member of the Ottawa County Board of Health. He also served as vice president of the Tri-Cities Council of Ministries, president of Michigan Funeral Directors Association District #4, and president and board member of the North Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. His community involvement also included leadership roles with Tri-Cities United Way, Love Inc., the North Ottawa Council on Aging, the Kiwanis Club, International Aid and the Charter Lions Club.

For several years, he served as both chairman and board president of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. His dedication to the U.S. Coast Guard and the festival led to his receipt of the Coast Guard’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Honor.

Klaassen was honored for his community service by the Jaycees and the Grand Haven Eagles’ Community Builders. He was inducted into the Grand Haven High School Hall of Fame and received the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

Klaassen is survived by wife Sandy; children Scott, Kurt and Tammy; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and brother Dann Klaassen.

retired funeral director and former owner, Turner-Engle Funeral Home, Tiffin, Ohio, and father of funeral director Matthew Engle, Egan-Ryan Funeral Service, Columbus, Ohio, died March 14, 2026, at age 91.

Engle was a graduate of Bowling Green University and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He also served in the United States Army as a tank driver.

Engle founded and served as chairman of both the Tiffin-Seneca County Heritage Festival and the Tiffin Heritage Living History Village. He also was a past president and trustee of the Seneca County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

His favorite pastime was providing historical and patriotic school programs for the students of Seneca County. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce and received numerous honors from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums for his work.

He is survived by children Matthew, Adams and Kimberly; eight grandchildren; seven great-
grandchildren; and his special friend of 12 years, Chris Moore.

funeral director, C. A. Walker Funeral Home, Geneva, Ohio, died March 27, 2026, at age 77.

Bibler earned a degree in education from Rio Grande College before attending the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He worked at funeral homes in the Columbus, and Canton, Ohio, areas before moving to Ashtabula County. There, he worked at Don Childs Funeral Home, then C. A. Walker Funeral Home.

He was a member of Orion Lodge #353, where he served as past master. He also was a member of Rising Sun Lodge #22 and Scottish Rite.

Bibler is survived by wife Cynthia, children Stacy and Eric, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home, Niles, Ohio, died March 6, 2026, at age 99.

Vross was the only woman in her graduating class at Cleveland College of Mortuary Science. She joined her father at Joseph Rossi Funeral Home and worked in funeral service for 79 years. She was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.

She also was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, where she served as a Eucharistic minister, belonged to the Blessed Mother Society, and was a longtime bingo and festival volunteer. In 2019, she was inducted into the Niles McKinley Hall of Fame Alumni Association.

Vross is survived by son John, daughters Sharon and Georgiana, brother Joseph Jr., four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and former owner, Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, Daly City, California, died December 9, 2025, at age 81.

Duggan was a graduate of San Francisco Mortuary College and the University of San Francisco. A proud veteran of the Air Force Reserve, he served in South Korea and fulfilled his lifelong dream of returning to Osan, South Korea, in 2019.

Duggan was an active member of the Olympic Club, Young Men’s Institute, Knights of Columbus and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. For nearly 60 years, he served families at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, which he helped found with his parents. He also was a co-founder of Valley Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Novato, California. In recognition of his contributions, he was asked to be grand marshal of the 2015 San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the highlights of his life.

Duggan is survived by wife Patricia; children Winifred, William, Maura and Caitlin; and six grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Baker Funeral Services, Newton, Kansas, died February 3, 2026, at age 86.

Baker attended Baker University, then the Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science. He worked for Downing Mortuary before taking over the Baker family businesses as the third-generation owner of Baker Funeral Home, started in Peabody, Kansas, by his grandfather. The business expanded to include branches in Valley Center, and Wichita, Kansas. Baker Furniture and Carpet is also part of the Baker legacy.

funeral director and owner, Simpson Funeral Home, Webb City, Missouri, died February 8, 2026, at age 73.

Simpson attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. After graduating, he returned to the family business as a second-generation funeral director.

Simpson was very active in the American Legion. He also was a past president of the Webb City Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club, and Boys and Girls Youth Baseball Association.

Simpson is survived by wife Stefanie, sons Austin and Adam, daughters Stacey and Sarah, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

funeral director and former owner, Kubena Funeral Home, Hallettsville, Texas, died February 4, 2026, at age 90.

Kubena attended St. Mary University in San Antonio, Texas, and was part of the ROTC program. He graduated from mortuary science school, then worked in the family business for 71 years. He provided ambulance services to Lavaca County until 1971.

Kubena was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville, the Sacred Heart Parish Board, SPJST and the Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department; a life member of 3rd & 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; a member and past president of the Rotary Club and Lavaca District Flood District; and a member and past vice president of the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce, which named him “Man of the Year.” He worked and held several positions with the Boy Scouts of America. He received the Silver Beaver Award for his distinguished service. Additionally, he was a past president of both the Golf Association of Morticians and the Hallettsville Golf Association. He did get one hole-in-one in his lifetime. He accepted the Community Builder Award from the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas.

Kubena is survived by children Eugene, Beverly and Andrew; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Reeves, Fruland & Baskerville Funeral Homes, Morris, Illinois, died February 8, 2026, at age 79.

Hexdall graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He taught at the local high school for a year before he was encouraged to pursue funeral service as a career. This pivotal moment led him to Worsham College of Mortuary Science and, ultimately, lifelong service in the profession. He joined the Fruland family, with whom he faithfully served his community for decades. In 2000, he assumed ownership of the funeral home.

Hexdall was a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morris.

Hexdall is survived by brother Kenneth, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

former senior vice president and funeral director, Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, Greenville, Texas, died January 3, 2026, at age 77.

Davis graduated from East Texas State University and dedicated 60 years of service to Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. He was a member of Highland Terrace Baptist Church.

Davis is survived by wife Janice and daughters Allison and Amy.