Gearty-Delmore’s Interns, Matt DeRuiter, Anna Hoehn, and Nikki Fox

They don’t make ‘em like they used to…….or do they?

Art Johnson was the 60 something owner and funeral director of Strobeck-Johnson Funeral Home in Hopkins, MN in 1974 when I began Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota. I lived in a nice apartment over the garage, answering phones, working visitations and washing company cars. Many funeral directors can relate to the job title “night attendant”, where most of us started our careers.

Art was a wonderful man and along with his business partner and nephew Ron, were very good to me and taught me much. I look back fondly on my years working for them.

Whenever the conversation at the coffee table got around to schedules and when we were expected to be on duty, Art would pull out the beginning schedule he had in the early 30’s as a young director at Welander-Quist, for decades Minneapolis’ largest funeral home. The younger staff would roll our eyes when he would chide us about how good we had it as compared to his early days.

Fast-forward to 2020 when the 66 year old owner of Gearty-Delmore describes the on call schedule in the ‘70’s, and predictably, the young directors roll their eyes and say, “here we go again”.

I would imagine that after we left, Art would look at Ron and talk about the good old days, saying they don’t make ‘em like they used to, do they? I have had many conversations with my funeral home colleagues and 1976 classmates across the country that conclude with the same sentiment.

Gearty-Delmore has had a remarkably steady staff over the years. We have directors like Al Blau at 40 years; John Carlson, Scott Benson, Brad Fenske and Ken Coutts who have been here over 20 years; Mike Lyons, Jessi Rinne and Carrie Erickson with over ten years here, and many years in other companies!

The first departures in many years occurred this past fall and winter. Carrie went to part time status, 20 year veteran Kelly Schwartz decided to move to a company that services many funeral homes and the departure two years ago of long-time employee Kathryn Anderson needed to be filled.

THE INTERNS

The standard procedure here for years has been to hire from our own night attendant staff. The boss watches them closely, observing good work habits and cooperative attitudes. I don’t recall a time in my 44 years where we hired three interns in one year, but indeed we have made company history, with the additions of Matt DeRuiter, Anna Hoehn and Nikki Fox.

When funeral interns begin, they are placed under the supervision of a more seasoned director by the state. It is to ensure that they learn best practices and have a person with experience to gently guide.

Matt began last August, Anna in September and Nikki just this week, June of 2020. What we expected was the norms of funeral service, sometimes busy, some days quiet with plenty of time for interaction. What we received was COVID-19 and what is turning out to be the busiest year in company history!

MATT DERUITER

Matt is 24 and possesses qualities that belie his age. He has excellent phone and in-person etiquette, answers inquiries in a calm and respectful manner. One of the most important qualities that a funeral director needs is a sense of calmness, the ability to set at ease a person who is stressed, sad, and sometimes fearful of the process of making funeral plans. Matt has the ability to step in calmly and relay by phone and in person that everything is going to be alright, different but survivable. It is a quality that can’t be taught, one either has it or doesn’t. Matt also knows what’s happening with regard to the schedule and keeps a running tab of daily events in his mind, a quality that has been necessary during these busy months.

ANNA HOEHN

Anna is from Waseca, MN, part of a family with a community venue that hosts weddings and hospitality. She knew prior to entering mortuary science what it meant to work weekends, nights and holidays, an important reality for anyone considering the funeral profession. Anna has a twinkle in her eye and an engaging smile that can light up a room. Her kindness and gentleness almost suggest timidity until you watch the work load increase and Anna’s ability to get things done kick into high gear. Excellent in organizing and paperwork, she also has a personality that wins people over instantly. Couple those skills with the ability to relate with families and you have the makings of an excellent funeral director.

NIKKI FOX

Like Matt and Anna, Nikki has spent the last year in our employ as a night attendant. I knew we had the right kind of individual on our hands when the first time I met her I threw a one-liner at her in classic Dan Delmore style. The barb was immediately returned and it has been going on ever since. Nikki is from western Wisconsin, a very small town and from a very close family. She still looks at all of us city dwellers a little warily, but quickly became a staff favorite. She is a quick study, asks many questions and seems to take the role of responsible, ethical funeral practice very seriously. She has a soft spot for all people experiencing grief and a sacred respect for the deceased developed well beyond her year or so of funeral practice.

The University of Minnesota Mortuary Science program has been around for over 100 years and enjoys a well-earned nationwide reputation. They try to expose students to all possibilities when they enter funeral service. I recall being trained 45 years ago about contagious diseases with the assumption that they would be few and far between. Matt and Anna began their internships under that same assumption, only to be confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic and all of its ramifications. Even the most seasoned funeral directors have witnessed circumstances unseen in decades of service.

Our workload was well above normal in April and doubled in the month of May. Matt and Anna stepped up and did what was necessary. We have schedules which normally guarantee certain nights on and off duty. Many nights saw all directors still here at 8 PM due to the high number of calls. Without complaint or grumble, Matt and Anna were with us side by side. Nikki was here after online classes and went with directors to call for those who died, COVID or not. Professional to the end of the day, good attitudes and wide eyes, it was quite an initiation! They handled it all as though they had years of experience.

For decades I have heard pastors and families tell me what a fine crew we have, pleasant to deal with, professional and ethical. The company has been blessed with a sterling reputation that has been earned through dedicated professionals who take their responsibilities seriously. For those of us with more of our career behind than ahead of us, it is comforting to know dedicated directors are lining up to carry on.

I probably should stop at Art Johnson’s grave at Lakewood Cemetery and tell him that I understand the hand-wringing in the office in Hopkins back in 1974. Art was a dignified funeral director who taught many of us how to serve the profession after he was gone. It gives me comfort to be able to tell him that indeed they still do make them the old fashioned way. I watch three examples of the best of the next generation of funeral directors learning and honing their skills every day. May it always be so!