Victor Garry

Funeral Director, Owner – vic@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Vic is a third generation funeral director, licensed in both Iowa and Minnesota. He was born and raised in Bancroft, graduating from St. John’s Catholic High School in 1987. He then attended NIACC and received his Bachelors Degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1991. Following college, he worked as a funeral director in Mason City until October, 2000, when he joined Oakcrest Funeral Services.

Vic and his family are members of St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona where he serves on the Calvary Cemetery Board. He is also a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Bancroft and a member of the Bancroft Area Rotary Club. His wife, Tricia (Steinberg) Garry is a native of Buffalo Center and is a realtor with Farm and Home Services. They have two children, Madeline and Lucchesi “Luke”. Vic and Tricia presently are serving as co-chairs of GALA, Bishop Garrigan and Seton Schools’ annual main fundraiser.

Rick Murphy

Funeral Director, Owner – rick@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Rick Murphy came to Algona in 1984. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1976, with a Bachelors Degree in Mortuary Management. Rick is married to Julie (Irwin) from Sac City and they are members of First Lutheran Church in Algona where Julie is Handbell Choir Director and church choir accompanist.

Rick is past President and currently secretary of the Algona Morwens Kiwanis Club. On September 29, 2010, Rick was awarded Kiwanian of the Year by his peers at the annual installation banquet. He is also a member and past President of the Algona Ambassadors, member of Prudence Lodge #205 A.F. & A.M., The Scottish Rite Bodies in Sioux City, Iowa , ABU BEKR Shrine in Sioux City and past President of The Kossuth Shrine Club. Rick serves on the City of Algona Cemetery Board as vice-president. At Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, Julie is an I.T. Manager. She is Co-Chair of the Algona branch of A.A.U.W., is President of the Kossuth County Concert Association Board of Directors, serves as a trustee on the Board of Algona Municipal Utilities, and is currently serving on the Preforming Arts Center committee and the Kossuth County Community Center/Auditorium committee.

Brian Schaaf

Funeral Director, Owner – brian@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Brian was born and raised in Algona and graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School in 1991. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Iowa Lakes Community College in 1994 and continued his education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois, graduating in 1995. He served his apprenticeship in Sioux City, Iowa, before returning to the Chicago area where he worked as a funeral director and was married. Brian and his wife, Mary, moved to Algona in 2000 where he joined his father and became a business partner at Oakcrest Funeral Services.

Mary owns and operates Mary Schaaf Design, a full service graphic design business. She is also involved in the Oakcrest business where she lends her personal touch to the advertising, business materials, memorial folders, memorial DVDs and more, striving to give everyone a unique and personal keepsake.

Brian and his family are members of St. Cecelia Catholic Church and their 2 children, Kyle and Ella attend Seton Elementary.

Brian is a proud member of the Algona Rotary Club, serving as 2010-2011 President. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #952 and is currently serving on the Good Samaritan Society Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Algona Family YMCA.

Reg Roberts

Funeral Director

Reg Roberts came to the area in 1982. He resided in LuVerne for one year and lived in Corwith for the next 15 years before moving to Algona in 1998. He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri in 1971. He taught school in Manilla, Iowa, for one year and then attended The Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas, graduating in 1973. Reg worked at several funeral homes in Iowa before moving to the Algona area. Reg is married to Roleene and they have three children, Christopher and wife Kelly, Corey and wife Kristi and Gina and husband Jeff Geving. They have one granddaughter, Amelia and five grandsons, Jaxon, Colin, Griffin, Milo and Ethan. Reg and Roleene are members of the First United Methodist Church in Algona. Reg also belongs to the Algona Lion’s Club, Prudence Lodge #205 A.F. & A.M., in Algona, Viona Lodge #538 A.F. & A.M., Renwick, Iowa, the Scottish Rite Bodies in Sioux City, Iowa, ABU BEKR Shrine in Sioux City and the Kossuth Shrine Club. Reg retired in June 2010, but continues to assist at the funeral home on an at need basis.

Thomas Garry

Funeral Director

Thomas W. Garry was born and raised in Bancroft, Iowa. He became interested in funeral service through his father, Thomas D. Garry who operated Garry Funeral Home, Garry Furniture Store, and also an ambulance service in Bancroft. After graduating from Ft. Dodge Community College and Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Tom returned to Bancroft to work with his father. In 1976 he purchased his father’s interest in the funeral home and in 1984 he became a founding partner in Oakcrest Funeral Services. In 2000, Tom retired and sold his share in Oakcrest to his son, Victor. Another son, Anthony is also a funeral director presently working at Shalom Funeral Services in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is licensed in both Minnesota and Iowa and is a 47-year member of Iowa Funeral Directors Association.

Tom and his wife, Adrienne have five grown children and 12 grandchildren. He is a member of St. John’s Catholic Church serving as a Eucharistic Minister, a 3rd Degree member of the Bancroft Knights of Columbus, a charter member of the Bancroft area Rotary Club, and he delivers meals to the home bound. Tom enjoys golf, fishing, gardening, and traveling.

Michael Schaaf

Funeral Director

Michael was born and raised near Atkinson, Nebraska, graduated from St. Joseph’s High School and then moved to Omaha where he worked for Western Electric. He later moved to Estherville, Iowa, where he attended Iowa Lakes Community College and then went on to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois, graduating in 1965. After working in Spencer and Avoca, Iowa, Michael moved to Algona in October of 1969 and joined the McCullough Funeral Home staff. In 1971 Michael and Henry Geilenfeld purchased the funeral home from Robert McCullough. Michael and his wife Karen, are members of St. Cecelia Catholic Church. They have four grown children, all of whom graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School. They have four granddaughters and three grandsons. Michael is a member and past president of the Algona Rotary Club; member of the Knights of Columbus Council #952; a past District 8 Governor of IFDA and was one of the original organizers of the Avenue of Flags in Algona which started in 1970.

Ginger Krebsbach

Family Services Representative – ginger@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Ginger was raised between Wesley and Titonka. She worked in Algona as a cosmetologist for many years and started Hope Center, which is a drop in center for the mentally ill people. Ginger started working with the funeral home in 1991 as a Family Service Representative, making advance funeral plans, providing After Care and working visitations. Ginger is married to Maurice Krebsbach, who is originally from the Bancroft-Ledyard areas. They have two grown daughters and four grandsons. She has belonged to the National Cosmetology Association and Algona Soroptomist, North Iowa Mental Health Board and Advisory Board to Board of Supervisors on Mental Health for many years and is a member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona.

Carol Eischeid

Office Manager – carolme@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Carol grew up on a farm near Ottosen, Iowa. She graduated from West Bend Community School and later Briar Cliff College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education. She began working at the funeral home in the fall of 2001 as the Office Manager. Carol handles the majority of paper work, accounts payable and receivable, death certificates and maintains funeral home records. When her schedule allows, she enjoys reading, playing piano, cooking, baking and movies. She is also active in the Countryside Community Playhouse, both as a board member and performer. Currently Carol is a member of the Bishop Garrigan High School Staff as the Drama Director. She and her husband Mark are members of St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona where she is involved in Parish activities and serves as a church accompanist.

Judy Junkermeier

Funeral Assistant

Judy started with the funeral home in June of 1985 as a Family Service Representative, working with pre-arrangements, visitation and After Care. Judy and her husband, Lamont, farm south of Titonka and are the parents of two grown children. Judy and Lamont are members of the Titonka United Methodist Church and she is also a lay pastor.

Rose Walker

Family Services Representative – rose@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Rose was born and raised in Whittemore, Iowa. She graduated from Garrigan High School in 1982, and went on to attend Mount Mercy College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She has worked both in acute care and long term care. She is married to Dennis and they have two children, Dillon and Nicole who attend Seton Grade School. Rose is a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore. She is actively involved in church functions and a member of the Whittemore Womens Club. Rose enjoys spending time with her family and friends and listening to music.

Carol DeGroote

Family Services Representative – carold@oakcrestfuneralservices.com

Carol grew up on a farm near Wesley, Iowa graduating from Britt High School and later from Mankato State University. She is married to Doug DeGroote of Corwith and they live on the family farm south of Corwith. They have three children, Brent, Bethany, and Benjamin and they also have three grandsons.
Carol enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband are active members of St. John Lutheran Church in Corwith. She has served on the church council and is a member of the Corwith Community Club and a past Corwith EMT.
Carol began working with Oakcrest Funeral Services in 2009 as a Family Service Representative helping with advanced funeral plans, providing aftercare, monument sales and design, and assisting with visitations and funeral services.

Frank Merrill

Funeral Assistant

Frank Merrill came to Algona in 1973 from South Dakota where he married his high school sweetheart, Carol. They have three children, Tom, Gary and Kristy as well as seven grandchildren, Andrew, Jack, Allison, Ryan, Joey, Maddison, and Alex. Frank was co-owner of the Wine and Spirits Shoppe for 20 years as well as employed with the State of Iowa Workforce Center for 28 years. Both Frank and Carol find themselves retired and enjoying part-time employment. Frank is also a member of Prudence Lodge #205 A.F. and A.M., Iowa York Rite, Abu Bekr Shrine Temple of Sioux City, and the Kossuth Shrine Club. He is also a current 30 year member of the Morwen Kiwanis Club, including Past President and Lieutenant Governor. Frank and Carol are 38 year members of the First Lutheran Church in Algona.

Pat Wilhelmi

Funeral Assistant

Patrick Wilhelmi has lived his entire life in Bancroft. Pat was janitor at St. John’s Catholic School and St. John’s Catholic Church in Bancroft for 21 years. He is a member of St. John’s Church, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and is a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Pat began assisting the funeral home in the early 1980’s.
Pat comes from a large family with 14 brothers and sisters. He enjoys wintering in Texas with his siblings and also spending time with his many nieces, nephews, and other family.