Our Funeral Directors

Terry P. Gahagan
Licensed Funeral Director

Terry P. Gahagan

Terry was born and raised right here in Davenport, graduating from Assumption High School in 1975. He earned his Mortuary Science degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and has been a funeral director for over 30 years.

Funeral service came naturally for Terry - his father, Al Gahagan, is also a funeral director. Although his father has been retired for several years now, Terry attributes his early interest in funeral service completely to his dad. "My Dad helped me understand that funeral service is really a great avenue of service to give back to the community," Terry says. "I knew I wanted to be a funeral director by the time I was 16 years old."

Terry and his wife Mary live in Davenport where they are active members of Sacred City Church, Davenport. Mary, a Registered Nurse, works in the office of Dr. Karen Maves, an Allergist, in Davenport.

The Gahagan's have two adult daughters, Allison and Meryl.

Mark T. Saunders
Licensed Funeral Director

Manager

Mark T. Saunders

Raised in nearby DeWitt, Mark graduated from DeWitt Central High School in 1981. He earned his Mortuary Science degree from Worsham College in Chicago. He has been licensed in Iowa and Illinois for over 20 years. He also holds a Life Insurance license in the State of Iowa.

Joining our staff during our 2009 centennial year, Mark is committed to helping families create meaningful experiences here. "I truly believe", he states, "that there is no better way to serve others and the community than through funeral service. I'm very pleased to be a part of the Weerts Funeral Home commitment to help others celebrate life".

He has been involved with various civic organizations and is a member of the DeWitt United Methodist Church.

Mark's wife, Holly, is an elementary teacher at Ekstrand Elementary in DeWitt. They have two daughters, Melanie and Hailey. Melanie, a 2013 University of Iowa graduate, now lives and works in Chicago. Hailey is currently a student at the University of Iowa.

Bryan R. Scott
Licensed Funeral Director

Bryan R. Scott

Bryan Richard Scott joined our staff on April 28, 2014. After graduating from Durant High School in 1985, Bryan attended Scott Community College. He later attended the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in California, earning his Mortuary Science Degree in 1997. Returning to Iowa, he served as a funeral director in the communities of Greenfield and Sioux City before relocating to Texas. After 10 years in the Austin and Georgetown areas, he returned to Iowa to be closer to his family.

“I am so pleased to be a part of the staff at Weerts. I view funeral service as an honor to serve the people at a time when they need a helping hand and kind words. I feel that hugs help ease the sorrow of the loss they are feeling. As the first funeral director in my family, I’m often asked why I chose this profession…I feel that it’s a calling from God.”

Bryan resides in Davenport and attends St. Johns United Methodist Church. He enjoys bowling, hockey, NASCAR, playing cards and spending time with his cat, Copper.

David W. Deuth, CFSP
Licensed Funeral Director

Former Owner

2005-2017

David W. Deuth, CFSP

A native of Pipestone, Minnesota, David attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, graduating with Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Sociology. His Mortuary Science degree was earned with Distinction from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

After working several years as a funeral director in Minnesota, Dave joined the Weerts Funeral Home staff in 2000. In late 2003, he became a partner in the firm, assuming the sole ownership of Weerts Funeral Home in 2005.

After learning of a cancer diagnosis in August, 2016, Dave and his wife, Linda, determined that the restoration of his health must be his singular focus and number one priority. With this in mind, Service Corporation International acquired the firm from Dave in January of 2017.

Linda is a first grade teacher at Grant Wood Elementary School in Bettendorf. Their son, Evan, and his wife, Raven, live and work in Cedar Falls, Iowa while their daughter Madelyn and her husband David live in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dave and Linda are active members of Harvest Bible Chapel in Davenport. Dave is also an active member of the Bettendorf Rotary Club where he is a Past President (2009-10), a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Bequest Society.

The only funeral director in the Quad Cities certified by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, Dave is among only 16 other funeral directors in the entire state of Iowa who hold the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation.

Licensed as a funeral director in the states of Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, he also holds a Life Insurance license in the state of Iowa.

James F. Weerts
Retired 2005

James F. Weerts

Jim was an active part of the family business for 45 years until his retirement in 2005. He attended Northwestern University and graduated from the University of Minnesota before returning to Davenport to join the family business.

Jim organized, developed and served as the first president of the hospice movement in Scott County; served as president of both the Scott County and Mississippi Valley Heart Associations; is a past-president of the Davenport Rotary Club where he is a Paul Harris Fellow and chaired for many years the Rotary Scholarship and Loan Fund; and co-developed two residential sub-divisions in Bettendorf.

Jim also served as the president and general manager of Oakdale Memorial Gardens for 20 years (1989-2009). Following the death of his wife Sandy in 1992, Jim developed the "Love of Animals" Petland at Oakdale in her memory. Sandy's love for animals now brings a dignified final resting place for those special members of our families: our pets.