At Abels Funeral Homes and French-Hand Funeral Home, we are honored to have earned the trust and confidence placed in us by those that we serve. We pledge to offer respectful and dignified professional service, service that a family should expect, service that a family deserves. From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each staff member at our funeral home contributes in an important way. We are very proud of our staff of caregivers who were recently recognized nationally for their excellence in funeral service by the National Funeral Director's Association.

David D. Hilsabeck
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager - Creps-Abels Funeral Home

David Hilsabeck has been serving bereaved families in Marshall and Hardin Counties ever since choosing funeral directing as a career in 1995. Dave was raised just a few miles from Eldora on a farm near Liscomb , Iowa and has been in central Iowa his entire life. Dave understands central Iowa values of family and community and strives to provide meaningful personalized services to all he serves.

In 1980 Dave was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Carol Hoppenworth, and they have two children Staci and Kyle. Carol works as a Human Resources Representative at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown and is very involved with various activities in the funeral home. Dave and Carol live at the funeral home in Eldora and have developed many close relationships in the community.

Deborah Ommen
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager – Doyen-Abels Funeral Home, French-Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck

Deborah Ommen was raised on a farm in rural Fairbank , Iowa , and graduated from Wapsie Valley High School . She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wartburg College in Waverly in 1993. Deborah attended Kansas City Kansas Community College , where she received her certificate in Mortuary Science. Returning to their home state, Deborah and her husband Karl were blessed to move to Wellsburg in 2000, which allowed her the opportunity to serve the families of Wellsburg, and more recently, the families of Reinbeck and the surrounding area.

Deborah is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church , the Wellsburg Community Betterment Group, the Knot So Perfect Piecers Quilt Group, the Grundy County Board of Health, and most recently has been the co-facilitator of the Grief Share Support Group. She is also a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, and of the National Funeral Directors Association, of which the funeral home recently received the prestigious NFDA Pursuit of Excellence.

Deborah, along with her husband Karl enjoy working together, and feel privileged to serve the communities of Wellsburg and Reinbeck, as well as Grundy Center, Eldora, Steamboat Rock, and Dike, and to be an active part of the communities. They are committed to continuing the Doyen-Abels and French-Hand Funeral Home tradition of providing dignified, meaningful, and caring funeral services for area families.

Joe Simon
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager – Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home

Joe grew up on a family farm near Parkersburg , Iowa . It was that farm life that formed his ideal of helping people, and which helped Joe decide to become a funeral director, as a way of helping people. Joe graduated from high school in 1985, then attended Central College for two years before graduating from Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana. After finishing his education, Joe worked for a large firm in Sioux City , Iowa .

Joe and Carrie were married in 1992, and made their home in Holstein , Iowa . When the opportunity became available in 1997 to move to Grundy Center , Joe and Carrie were eager to join the community.

Dave Hemann
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager - French-Hand Funeral Home

Dave grew up on a farm near Osage, Iowa and graduated from Osage Community High School. After graduation, he worked for Wallace Computer Services in Osage. With the encouragement of his family, Dave later decided to make a career change after twenty-seven years in the printing industry. He completed his necessary education at North Iowa Community College in Mason City, Iowa, and then attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. After graduation, Dave worked for a large funeral home in Des Moines, Iowa.

Dave and his wife Terry lived in Des Moines until the opportunity became available in 2007 to move to Reinbeck. They were ready and willing to join this community. Terry is also working with the funeral home as a Family Services Counselor.

Dave and Terry are the parents of two daughters, Amanda and Brittany. Amanda is married to Andy Muller and they have three children, Alex, Maddie and Grace. Amanda is a RN and Brittany is enrolled in the nursing program at North Iowa Community College. Dave and Terry are members of Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Reinbeck and The Oak Leaf Country Club in Reinbeck. Dave is a member of the Iowa Funeral Director's Association, the National Funeral Director's Association and The Iowa Firemen's Association.

Gerald Hilsabeck
Funeral Service Assistant

Gerald Hilsabeck is the father of David Hilsabeck and has been assisting with funerals at Creps-Abels for the past three years. Gerald was born in Marshall County and raised on the family farm in the Liscomb area. He graduated from Liscomb High School in 1949, joined the Navy in 1951 and served four years on the West Coast. In 1952 he married Janet Hof, his high school sweetheart, and they lived two years in San Francisco. After his discharge he returned to the farm, which he operated for forty years, retiring in 1998. Gerald and Janet still reside on the family farm and travel to Texas during the winter months. They have three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Gerald is a member of the Liscomb Church of Christ and the American Legion. He enjoys playing golf and pool.

Larry and Grace Kadolph
Funeral Service Assistants

Larry has been helping at the funeral home since 1997. He is a lifelong resident of the Eldora area and graduated from the Owasa High School in 1953. He spent two years in the United States Army. Larry worked for Farm Service for 30 years before retiring in 1998. Larry has been a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church his entire life. Larry is married to Grace who also helps at the funeral home. Larry & Grace have been married 31 years. Grace is from Humboldt, Minnesota and has worked for United Suppliers in Eldora for 31 years and hopes to retire in a couple of years. Larry and Grace both enjoy working with people and try to help comfort in a time of sadness. Larry and Grace have seven living children and two deceased children.

Glenn and Elinor Hinders
Funeral Service Assistants

Glenn and Elinor have been with the funeral home since 2000. Glenn was born and raised near Ackley. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of Buena Vista College and Truman State University. He was a high school counselor for 35 years; the last 27 were in Eldora and Eldora-New Providence Schools. He retired in 1993 and remains active at St. Paul Lutheran Church, in the Eldora Lions, the American Legion, and Dollars for Scholars. He enjoys golf and bowling.

Elinor was born and raised near Wellsburg and attended Ellsworth Community College. She was an Optometric Assistant for 35 years for Dr. C.G. Gould and Dr. Dan Dye in Eldora. Since retirement she remains an active member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, and serves as secretary of both the Board of Dorothy’s Senior Center and the Hardin-Marshall Mental Health Board. She also volunteers at the Eldora Public Library and enjoys quilting, playing bridge and golf. Glenn and Elinor have three children, Teresa of Cedar Falls and Keith and Steve of Eldora. They are grandparents to five wonderful grandchildren.

Leonard Ralston
Funeral Assistant

Leonard has been with the funeral home since 1991. He is a lifetime resident of Grundy Center, graduating from Grundy Center High School in 1947. He married Donna Dudden in 1951 and they have four children. After completing four years with the United States Air Force, he bought a Men’s Clothing Store, in which worked for 36 years until retiring. Leonard is a long-time member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, serving in various offices, and is a past member of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren, golfing, and attending high school athletic events.

Harry Dole
Funeral Assistant

Harry has been a Funeral Assistant with the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home since April of 1998. He is a lifelong resident of the area. Harry was raised near Eldora, and graduated from Hubbard High School. He has lived in Grundy Center for 37+ years. Harry served the community schools for 29 years, as a teacher, a coach, and an administrator.

He is a charter member of the Grundy Center Kiwannis Club, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and American Legion. Harry is a member of the Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Grundy Center Municipal Light and Power Company and the Communications Utility.

Harry and his wife Jean have four children, Lisa of Philadelphia, Joe of Morton, Illinois, Jeff of West Des Moines, and Kerri of Iowa City. They also have six grandchildren. Harry enjoys spending time with family, attending school and community functions, and fishing and golfing.

Al Miller
Funeral Assistant

Al joined the staff at Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes in 2004. He is a lifetime resident of Grundy Center, graduating from Grundy Center High School in 1962. Al retired as Maintenance Superintendent from the Grundy County Secondary Road Department, having served the county for
37 ½ years. He is married to Grundy Center native, Carol Abels. Carol is employed as office manager at the Grundy County Engineer's office.

Al is a life member of Amvet Post #17. He is a member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, having served as Trustee. When not working, Al enjoys gardening and yard work in the summer, and in the winter he enjoys watching basketball and football.

Mike Lovell
Funeral Assistant

Mike joined the staff at Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes in 2005. He and his wife Karen farm west of Reinbeck. For many years, Mike was a teacher at the high school and middle school levels. He also coached in the high school and middle schools in the area. Mike continues to substitute teach part-time.

Mike and Karen have three adult children, Paul, Paula, and Kerry.

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