Our Funeral Directors
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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. |
Manager |
Mark T. SaundersRaised 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. ScottBryan 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. |
Former Owner 2005-2017
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David W. Deuth, CFSPA 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. |