Our knowledgeable staff are passionate about providing families guidance and support during the funeral planning process and well after the funeral. Together, we can honor your loved one’s life while helping you begin your grief journey well.
Growing up in Washington, Illinois, Stephanie is a graduate of Washington Community High School and Southern Illinois University. After working as a funeral director/embalmer in East Peoria and Peoria and teaching at the Carl Sandburg Mortuary Science Program in Galesburg, IL, Stephanie was blessed with the opportunity to build her own funeral home in 1999. In 2008, the business expanded to include a human crematory, and added a pet service business, Deiters Pet Services.
Stephanie is a member of several organizations and is most proud of her accomplishments with the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where she has served on the Board of Directors for several years, including serving as President in 2015-16, and currently as the NFDA Policy Board Representative and a member of several committees. She is also currently a member of the Washington Rotary Club, where she is serving as this year’s President and is a member of St. Patrick Church in Washington.
A mom to 5 amazing children, Ally, Elizabeth, Luke, Clare, and Isaac, she is also a dog mom to Otter and Lilah. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, golf, pickleball, baking, landscape projects and gardening, decorating, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Madison is dedicated to connecting with families and creating extraordinary experiences for them following their loss. Her goal is to first understand what things matter most to each family, then build from that understanding to deliver remarkable service. Since joining the staff in 2013, she has been privileged to be there for funeral home and pet service families at a time when she can truly help them. Madison graduated from Carl Sandburg College in 2011 with an AAS in Mortuary Science and has since earned the distinction of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and is a certified InSight Institute Celebrant. She and her husband Patrick have two sons, Edsel and Oliver, and two cats, Deb and Mavis. They enjoy time spent together camping, traveling, checking out car shows, hunting for unique antiques, and being active members of their church.
Randy was born in Peoria to Roger and Patricia Lyman Beard and resided in East Peoria. He attended Illinois Central College and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He married his soulmate, Melissa “Missy” Rentsch, and they have lived in Washington for the last 25 years. They have a son, Brad, daughter, Laci who attended Washington Community High School and Illinois Central College. Randy has been a funeral director in the Peoria area for the last 25 years joining the staff of Deiters Funeral Home in October of 2014. He enjoys spending time with his family, and sports.
Sabrena was born and raised in Washington and graduated from Washington Community High School in 2019. At a young age, Sabrena found a passion for funeral service and wanted to be someone who could help people through difficult times. In 2022, she earned her AAS in Mortuary Science from Carl Sandburg College and is thrilled to be starting this new journey as a funeral director intern. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her cats, Binx and Vinnie.
Regina grew up in Washington and is married to her high school sweetheart, Chris. They have four children, Shelby, Hannah, Isaiah, and Laney, and two Labradors named Kokoa and Millie. Regina is a member of Connect Church and she has a passion for serving people, small businesses, and coffee. She is thankful to be part of the Deiters team and looks forward to being a blessing to the families we serve.
Before becoming an employee at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory, Ken served as a middle school principal in Washington School District #52, retiring in 1997. Ken is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, having also served on the Parish Board. Ken and Karen have been married for 62 years, and have 4 children and 10 grandkids. They also have been summer volunteers in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming for 40 years.
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 was previously the Washington Township Supervisor, which he held for 16 years. He 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.
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 and Arrowhead Country Club. He and his wife, Trish, have 2 daughters, Sarah Blake and Elizabeth Owens, and 6 grandchildren.
Earl has worked for Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory since 2005. He retired from the Kroger Warehouse. He lives in Washington with his wife Carol and have three children. Joe, Danny, and Jeannie Church (deceased). He also has four grandchildren. He is a member of the Washington Knights of Columbus and 4th degree Spalding Council. He has been a member of St. Patrick's since 1969. He volunteers for the KC's, St. Patrick's and the United Stroke Alliance.
Jerry started with Deiters 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 are involved in the Outreach Committee. Jerry enjoys cooking, fishing, photography and gardening. Jerry and his wife Ronna have been married for more than 44 years and have two sons, Chris and Rob and three grandchildren Ian, Emma and Claire.
In 2015 Lyle became part of the staff at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory. He retired from Caterpillar in 2014. He lives in Germantown Hills with his wife Barb of 38 years. They have two boys, Zachary who lives in Scottsdale, AZ and Adam who lives in Dallas, TX. Lyle enjoys traveling, hiking, and biking. He attends Bethany Community Church in Washington.
Dennis retired from OSF Healthcare System with 31 years in information technology and joined the funeral home staff in 2019. Dennis lives in Washington with his wife of 39 years, Carol. The O'Connor's have two married daughters, Megan and Molly, twin grandchildren, Tinley and Easton, and a third grandchild on the way. Dennis keeps busy in retirement and enjoys golfing, fishing, traveling, and attending his grandkids' activities.
Tom started working at the funeral home in May of 2021 and currently lives in Groveland. He retired from Caterpillar in 2008, last working in Customer Services. Before retiring from Caterpillar he became a part-time police officer at Washington Police Department. He eventually was hired as Assistant Chief of Police in Deer Creek & Goodfield. Tom loves to travel and enjoys being a guide on various bus trips when he's not working at the funeral home. He retired from in 2017 to care for his wife, Donna, of 34 years, who passed away in 2021. He has one son, Tom, and one daughter, Cynthia. He also has one grandson, Quenton, and one granddaughter, Maggie.
Tony retired from GNC after working for the company for 37 years. He and his wife Tammy have 2 children, Carly and Cory, and attend First English Lutheran Church in Peoria. He has saved his saved his favorite hobbies for retirement, which include fishing with my wife and friends and golfing.
Dave joined Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory at the end of 2021. Before joining the team he served 21 years with the the State of Illinois Department of Corrections, where he was a member of the Honor Guard Team, until retiring. He has also been a member of the Northern Tazewell Fire Department for 30 years and currently holds the rank of Deputy Fire Chief in addition to planning and conucting all department Honor Guard details. Dave is a United States Army veteran and served in combat in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He and his wife Rebecca have a son, Scott and a husky mix, Apache. In his spare time, he likes to travel, read, and spend time with family and friends.
After being part of the Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory family with his wife, Madison, Pat joined the staff in 2016. He is self-employed and enjoys helping to maintain our facilities, grounds and vehicles in addition to his day job. He grew up in the Peoria area and in his spare time, he keeps busy with his two young sons, restoring his 1968 GTO and working on projects around the family home.
Otter joined the Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory family in November of 2013. He was born in July of 2012 at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Michigan. After his year of puppy raising in an Iowa prison and his Leader Dog evaluation, he was released from the program due to a mild limp. Our family was once again blessed to receive another amazing dog from this program. Otter and Stephanie Deiters completed both the beginner and intermediate training classes at Heartland Dog Training, where he was also awarded with his Good Citizenship Award. He is also a registered Therapy Dog and is a wonderful asset to Deiters Pet Services and Pet Crematory. He also enjoys attending funerals and meeting new people.
In Loving Memory (2008-2013)
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 was blessed to have had such a beautiful and smart dog join our work and family life. Nacho embraced his role as a grief therapy dog to those who had lost a beloved pet and visited Deiters Pet Services and Pet Crematory.