funeral director, The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, Bloomington, Indiana, died November 20, 2024, at age 77. Deremiah attended Indiana University for two years before studying mortuary science at Kentucky School of Mortuary Science. He was a former partner at Deremiah Frye Mortuary Greene & Harrell Chapel.

In 1999, Deremiah joined Flanner Buchanan in Indianapolis and served as area manager of Washington Park East.

He returned to Bloomington in 2014 and retired in 2017, but he quickly realized that after 49 years in funeral service, he missed serving families. After receiving an opportunity to return to The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, he decided to drop the word “retirement” from his vocabulary.

Deremiah was a life member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and founded and currently chaired the Indiana Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) Intern Mentorship Academy, in which he took great pride and responsibility in thoroughly and properly training and educating the intern funeral directors in Indiana.

He also served as a past NFDA Policy Board representative and as IFDA past president.

Deremiah served as a dental technician in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was active in many local organizations, including Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce, Hospice of Bloomington, Suburban Kiwanis Club, American Legion Burton Woolery Post 18, Ellettsville Masonic Lodge, Bloomington Laurens B. Strain V.F.W. Post 604, Indianapolis Murat Shrine Temple and Scottish Rite-Valley of Indianapolis. He was currently serving as president of the Kiwanis Club of Bloomington.

He is survived by wife Kathy; sons Andrew, Timothy and Aaron; and five grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Anamosa, Iowa, died November 30, 2020, at age 89. McBride attended Loras College in Dubuque and Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Management in Indianapolis. He was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years, working throughout the state of Iowa; an active member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association; and a longtime NFDA member.

McBride served in the U.S. Army Arctic Services Group from 1953-56, with two tours of duty stationed at Thule Air Base near the North Pole. He received the Cold War Service Medal and was a member of the Farley American Legion; he was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by children Michael, Lynne, Margaret and Patricia.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.