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View our recent obituaries
John A. Gentleman Mortuaries & Crematory Logo

OUR CARING STAFF

OUR CARING STAFF

From our family to yours.

 Our team, dedicated to helping you honor your loved one, with years of experience caring for families from all walks of life. We are available 24/7, via email, phone, or text. Our team is patient, compassionate, professional and always available.

Douglas J. Schroeder
Douglas J. Schroeder
General Manager and Licensed Funeral Director
Douglas J. Schroeder
General Manager and Licensed Funeral Director

General Manager and Licensed Funeral Director. Doug was born in Carroll, Iowa and is a graduate of Kuemper High School in Carroll, Iowa, Creighton University in Omaha, Ne. and the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas. He has been married for 36 years to his wife Mary and has two children, Lindsey Thomas and Cory Schroeder; grandchildren, Brooks & Merritt Thomas, Tate & Mick Schroeder. He has been with John A. Gentleman Mortuaries since 1976 when he returned from mortuary training to do his apprenticeship. Doug was licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in Nebraska and Iowa in 1977 and has been with John A. Gentleman ever since.

Heidi Palenik
Heidi Palenik
Assistant General Manager
Heidi Palenik
Assistant General Manager

Heidi is a Green-Bay-Packer-loving Wisconsinite who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Mortuary Science in 2013. She worked in funeral service in Minnesota since graduation up until June of 2023 when she joined the John A. Gentleman team. West Omaha is home to Heidi where she lives with her boyfriend and their two pups, Frank and Lucy. 

Brian Sunseri
Brian Sunseri
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Brian Sunseri
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Brian is a former resident of Dubuque, Iowa, He graduated University of Northern Iowa in 1995 and the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program in 1996. He joined the John A. Gentleman Mortuaries as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the late 1990’s and is licensed in Nebraska and Iowa.

Daniel Matzke
Daniel Matzke
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Daniel Matzke
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Daniel Matzke graduated from Blair High School is 2010. He obtained his Associates Degree in Applied Sciences from Kansas City Kansas Community College, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State College. In 2015 he began his career at the John A. Gentleman Mortuaries as an apprentice. In 2016, he became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Peggy Hall
Peggy Hall
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Peggy Hall
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Peggy Hall is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Nebraska. She grew up in a military family and moved to Bellevue, Nebraska in 1999. A year after high school she joined the Air Force and served 4 years. After being honorably discharged, Peggy moved to New York where she attended Nassau Community College. In May of 2009 she graduated with an AAS degree in Mortuary Science. She then moved back to Nebraska and began her career in funeral service. Peggy served her apprenticeship and worked in funeral service over 4 years before joining John A. Gentleman Mortuaries in June of 2014. She is married and has two sons.

Tom Belford
Tom Belford
Funeral Director
Tom Belford
Funeral Director

Former owner and licensed funeral director. A life-long resident of Omaha, Nebraska, Tom graduated from Creighton Prepatory School and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He joined the John A. Gentleman Mortuaries in 1980. He is the third generation of his family to be in funeral service.

Terri Musgrave
Terri Musgrave
Funeral Assistant
Terri Musgrave
Funeral Assistant

Terri Musgrave is a veteran of the Omaha funeral service industry with over 25 years’ experience.  She and her husband Mike hail from Eastern Iowa, moving here in 1987 with their 3 children.  Terri attended UNO and began her career in funeral care as a cemetery counselor in 1997 and became a funeral assistant in 1999.  She currently serves as Community Outreach Coordinator for John a. Gentleman as well as funeral assisting duties.  Along with three children, Terri and Mike are also proud grandparents to nine grandchildren.


John Gross
John Gross
Crematory Operator
John Gross
Crematory Operator


Jimmy Diaz
Jimmy Diaz
Support Staff
Jimmy Diaz
Support Staff

Jimmy Diaz, receptionist, was born in New York City. He and his wife, Mirna, have five children and three grandchildren. Jimmy is a retired Master Sergeant (U.S. Air Force) and has been with John A. Gentleman mortuaries since 2019.

Brigitte DeWitt
Brigitte DeWitt
Support Staff
Brigitte DeWitt
Support Staff

Brigitte was born in Alabama and lived there for 17 years.  She married and moved to Texas where she had 2 children, Mindy and Beau.  Brigitte divorced and remarried Mark DeWitt, an airman in the Air Force; they had another child, Jyssica.  She also has an Associate’s degree in Medical Management and has worked for John A. Gentlemen since February 2023.


Jim Bartsch
Jim Bartsch
Support Staff
Jim Bartsch
Support Staff

Jim Bartsch, receptionist, has been with John A. Gentleman Mortuaries since March of 2022. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Grace College of the Bible and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has been a Pastor for several decades and has officiated at over a hundred funerals. He and his wife Esther have been married 55 years. They have four children and fourteen grandchildren.

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