A pillar in Twin Cities’ funeral service, Dan has owned and operated Gearty-Delmore for nearly 30 years. He joined the business in 1976, upon graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in mortuary science, initially working as a second-generation funeral director under his dad, Bob, the owner at that time. Dan attributes a good deal of his knowledge of the industry’s complexities, along with his open, honest management style, to his dad’s strong business ethic. 

For Dan, simplifying the last goodbye is a perfect combination of knowledge accumulated over his decades-long career, coupled with a gentle, amiable personality, which immediately puts families at ease. And, because he never forgets a face or a name, merely picking up the phone and calling “Dan” can start to ease the pain for families.

Throughout his career, Dan has been active in many civic organizations, including the Optimists, Rotary, and Chambers of Commerce. He has served on the board of directors of Citizens Independent Bank for 30 years, as well as The Catholic Cemeteries Board for the past 10. 

A devout Catholic, Dan has been involved with several Twin Cities’ parishes and Archdiocesan organizations. He and his wife Mary are humbled to be part of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a lay organization of the Vatican State dedicated to supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Dan and Mary are currently members of the Church of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata. They enjoy spending time with their young adult children, Hugh and Clare. 

Al was born and raised in a small farming community in northwest Iowa before moving to the Twin Cities in the late 1970s. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Department of Mortuary Science in 1980. 

He has lived in North Minneapolis and has worked at Gearty-Delmore for more than 40 years. With responsibility for the technical operation of the company, Al simplifies the last goodbye by helping ensure a seamless process and opportunities for families to reach closure. 

He likes the small-town feel of Robbinsdale and enjoys visiting with the local merchants and citizens of the community. He enjoys traveling, and for many years stayed active by running, playing basketball, and playing on many softball teams in Robbinsdale and the surrounding suburbs. 

Al and his wife Julie are members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park. They enjoy spending time with their three daughters, Allie, Emy, and Angie, and their little granddaughter, Selah.  

Scott was raised in Worthington, MN. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1989 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He began working for Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels as a student while attending the University of Minnesota and upon graduation, began his career as a funeral director. 

He is a Minnesota licensed funeral director and Minnesota licensed insurance agent. Scott’s positive, unflappable disposition allows him to easily connect with and support families as they work to simplify the last goodbye. 

Scott and his wife Lori live in Maple Grove, where they raised their sons, Alex, and Zach. He is a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church. He enjoys golf, fishing and hunting as well as many activities with his family.

John was born and raised in Green Bay, WI and graduated from Ashwaubenon High School in 1987. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science. John began his career with Gearty-Delmore as a student in 1990 and has remained as a funeral director with the company since that time. 

John’s soft-spoken demeanor and ability to put people at ease is keenly instrumental in helping families simplify the last goodbye. 

John, his wife Lexi and two sons Owen and Brady, reside in Chanhassen, MN. He enjoys watching and attending sporting events, including his beloved Green Bay Packers, and has been to 17 MLB stadiums, and counting! John also enjoys spending quality time with his family when away from work.

Ken has been a licensed funeral director with Gearty-Delmore since 1994. He has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a B.S. in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Ken’s ability to connect genuinely with all ages and kinds allows him to easily begin the process of simplifying the last goodbye for the families he serves. 

Since 2011, Ken, along with his wife, have been mentors in the First Robotics program at Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope. The program gives students an opportunity to obtain STEM experience in a direct, real world, environment outside of the normal school curriculum. Each spring the team competes in a new challenge at a regional event held on the U of M campus. 

Ken also enjoys camping, hunting as well as target, trap, and skeet shooting. He and his wife like traveling in their camper, taking cross-country trips, visiting family, friends, and eventually every national park. They also enjoy spending time with their two adult sons.

Carrie Lee Erickson has been a funeral director for more than 35 years, and with Gearty-Delmore since 2010. She’s a graduate of Wayzata High School, Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, and the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science.

Carrie’s appreciation for her job grows with each passing year. “I cannot envision myself doing anything else,” she says. “I love what I’m doing. I grew up with a mortician for a father and learned to appreciate this work from a young age. Every day feels like a gift.”

In 1990 Carrie’s father died young, which gave her firsthand experience with the grief journey that families walk. She believes it is a true privilege to be invited in to simplify the last goodbye for families by becoming a small part of their journey. 

A lifelong resident of the western suburbs, Carrie has been active in a variety of local civic organizations including Rotary, Interfaith Outreach and Wayzata Youth Hockey.

She is proud of her big, beautiful, blended family: husband Ed; children Mason and Dillon Starry; Ed’s children Matt, Steve, and Julie, and their amazing families. In her free time, Carrie enjoys activities with her friends and family, relaxing at their lake home ‘up north’, golfing, playing hockey (basically everything outdoors!) and her church home of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church.

Brad graduated from the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science program in 1998. He has been a member of the Gearty-Delmore team for 25 years, focusing primarily on the technical operation of the funeral home. 

Brad lives in St. Paul Park with his wife Jessica, their young daughter Ripley, dog Claypool and cat Persia. On his off days, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, walking the dog and trying to find time for sports, movies, concerts and the occasional vacation.

Mike was born and raised in west-central Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Minnesota's Mortuary Science Program in 1987. He joined the staff of Gearty-Delmore in the summer of 2005. Mike holds licensure as a funeral director in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

He brings a wealth of management experience to the table, having managed several funeral home locations and cemeteries before his tenure at Gearty-Delmore. This experience, coupled with an exceptional ability to multi-task and keep track of a myriad of details, allows him to serve families well as he helps them simplify the last goodbye. 

Mike and his wife Chris live in Edina, where they raised their two children, Nicole and Mike. A member of Our Lady of Grace in Edina, he has been active in the Faith Formation Program for more than ten years. 

In addition to enjoying all family-related activities, Mike also enjoys the outdoors, exploring craft breweries and participating in and attending sporting events. Mike’s interest in woodworking also provides a valuable creative outlet when he’s away from work.

April grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota and attended New Ulm High School. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science. A member of the Gearty-Delmore staff since 2022, April enjoys working behind-the-scenes, helping the seasoned technical team to simplify the last goodbye through attention to detail and a focus on logistics. 

April and her husband Tom live in Golden Valley, sharing their home with their furry feline friends, Juniper, and Hazel. When away from the funeral home, April enjoys outdoor adventures, nature hikes, and sightseeing. A recent honeymoon trip to Ireland provided great opportunities to enjoy the country’s natural beauty. 

Seth grew up in Crosby, MN and graduated from the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program in 2022. While studying at the U, he began working for Gearty-Delmore and upon graduation, joined the licensed funeral director staff at the funeral home. A high-energy professional, Seth helps families simplify the last goodbye through efficiency, attention to detail, and a warm smile. 

Seth is currently a member of St. Raphael in Crystal. When away from the work, Seth enjoys hunting and fishing with his dad, brothers, uncles and cousins and is a huge hockey enthusiast, especially the Minnesota Wild.

Haley grew up in eastern Wisconsin and is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program. Starting at Gearty-Delmore as a student while studying at the U, Haley joined the funeral home staff as a licensed intern funeral director in 2023. As she begins working directly with families, she is finding it both an honor and a privilege to help them find just the right way to simplify their last goodbye. Haley likes “keeping busy” and spending as much time outdoors as she can when away from work.  She also makes it a point to get back to her hometown often, enjoying her time there with family and friends. She lives in St. Paul with her roommates and cat, Sam.

Jessi, a 1998 graduate of Delano High School and 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota, is a licensed funeral director, a certified preplanning consultant and licensed in insurance. 

She worked as a student at Gearty-Delmore prior to becoming licensed and has been a director since 2003. Jessi transitioned into the role of Preplanning Specialist and focuses on simplifying the last goodbye through her passionate work of helping families plan ahead for one of life's most difficult experiences. 

Jessi enjoys working with families as they invite her into their lives by sharing stories to aid in creating a meaningful tribute to a life well lived. 

Outside of the funeral home, Jessi enjoys gardening, hiking, and plenty of travel. She is diligently working toward visiting all of the national parks in the United States. Jessi lives in Buffalo with her husband, Scott

Sheila Delmore Thelemann joined Gearty-Delmore’s administrative team in October of 2021 after a 30-year marketing and public relations career. 

The youngest of Bob Delmore’s children, the family business has always been in her heart, having learned about it around the dinner table. She now appreciates understanding more about the day-to-day operation and supporting the company’s funeral directors as they work to simplify the last goodbye. 

Sheila and her husband John live in Bloomington, where they raised their four children, Rob, Gina, Taylor and Connor. Today, they enjoy spending time with their adult kids and their spouses, and two little grandchildren. 

In her free time, Sheila loves experimenting with interior decorating and furniture rearrangement (a creative practice she learned from her dad), reading, journaling and playing with the family’s two miniature dachshunds. With their kids now raised, Sheila and John look forward to more travel in the future.

Kathy has been a member of the Gearty-Delmore team for more than 40 years. Over the years, she has served in many capacities, evolving from a part-time administrative assistant to the organization’s business manager. In 2023, Kathy stepped down from her full-time role, entered “semi-retirement” and began once again working in a part-time capacity. 

Kathy helps simplify the last goodbye by supporting the funeral directors in managing little details, filing paperwork, and being a go-to source for questions from families, churches, cemeteries, and other partners. 

Kathy is a native of LeCenter, MN. Her husband Tim is also from LeCenter and together, they raised three sons, Brian, Brent, and Kelly. Kathy and Tim love getting away to spend time with Brent, his wife Brit, and young grandkids, Brayden and Bria. Kathy is active in her parish, St. Hubert's of Chanhassen. The O'Keefes like to travel and spend time at the cabin with family and friends.

Joyce was born and raised in a small farming community in northwestern Minnesota where she raised four children and is blessed with four grandchildren. 

She worked for 35 years for State Farm Insurance before life changes brought her to the Twin Cities and a major career change in 2011. She loves to help families, and after selling life insurance for many years she now sees the other side of the spectrum; the benefit of having insurance and the peace of mind it brings to families who are working to simplify the last goodbye.

Joyce is a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church where she is involved in Bible Study, Lutheran Women Missionary League and serves as a Eucharist Minister. She enjoys her part-time work schedule which allows more time for family and her hobbies, reading, scrapbooking and walking. 

She and her husband Jeff live in Maple Grove where they enjoy outdoor summer concerts, going to the movies, restaurants and the many walking trails.

Mike  Lyons is a native of Edina, MN, and a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program. He initially joined Gearty-Delmore as a part-time student during his years at the U of M. Upon graduation and completion of his clinical rotation, Mike transitioned into his new role of full-time intern in February of 2024. Mike’s interest in funeral service came naturally as he heard and learned about the industry from his dad, Mike, Sr., also a Gearty-Delmore funeral director. As he begins his career, Mike looks forward to helping families simplify the last goodbye through dedicated service. An avid sportsman, Mike enjoys participating in and watching sports, particularly his beloved Green Bay Packers. When away from work, Mike also enjoys spending time with family and friends and spending time watching Formula 1 racing. Mike currently resides near downtown St. Paul and enjoys the walkability of the area.