Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Funeral Services in Freeport, IL
Since 1923, Walker Mortuary & Daughenbaugh Funeral Home has provided compassionate end-of-life services to families in Freeport, Dakota, and surrounding communities. Founded on nearly a century of generational expertise since our family's first funeral home opened in 1900, we specialize in personalized memorials that honor each individual's unique legacy. Our licensed professionals deliver traditional funerals, cremations, military honors, and memorial services tailored to family needs, whether held at our historic Freeport facility or preferred venues.Backed by 24/7 availability and a commitment to community values, we offer preplanning resources, grief counseling, and collaboration with local caterers and venues. As a family-operated business, we maintain the same dignity and respect we would extend to our own loved ones, combining time-honored traditions with modern service flexibility to support families during their most difficult moments.
Services
Traditional Funerals
Memorial Services
Graveside Services
Cremation Services
Military Honors
Grief Counseling
Preplanning Consultations
Venue Coordination
Catering Partnerships
Pet Cremation
Details
- Year established: 1923
Highlights and features
- Family-owned service since 1900 with generational funeral care expertise
- 24/7 availability for immediate assistance during emergencies
- Personalized memorials honoring individual legacies and family traditions
- Licensed directors with specialized certifications in grief facilitation
- Preplanning resources preserving personal wishes and reducing family stress
Services
Traditional Funerals
Our traditional funeral services provide comprehensive care including visitation, ceremony, and burial arrangements. We coordinate casket selection, clergy collaboration, and obituary preparation while honoring cultural or religious customs. Families receive guidance through legal documentation and insurance claims, with options for horse-drawn hearse or vintage vehicles enhancing personal tributes.
Cremation Services
We offer full-service cremation packages with memorialization choices ranging from private ceremonies to scattering rituals. Services include temporary urn provision, witness cremation access, and jewelry-making from ashes. Our directors assist with cemetery plot selection for urns or placement in our on-site memorial garden.
Preplanning Consultations
Preplanning ensures personal wishes are honored while relieving family decision-making burdens. We document preferences for service style, music selections, and asset distribution through legally binding documents. Clients receive cost-locked packages protecting against future inflation.
Military Honors
We coordinate full military honors ceremonies with flag presentation, rifle volley, and Taps played by live bugler. Our staff obtains VA death certificates, pension applications, and ensures eligibility for government-provided headstones or markers.
Grief Counseling
Certified grief facilitators provide one-on-one sessions and group workshops for adults and children. Our 12-month follow-up program includes anniversary remembrance cards and referrals to community support networks specializing in traumatic loss or sudden death.
People
Justina Hermann
Owner/Funeral Director
Fifth-generation funeral director with 14 years' experience, certified grief facilitator, and Jo Daviess County Coroner. Graduated top of her class at Worsham College, specializing in personalized memorial planning while maintaining family funeral traditions since 1900.
Michelle Stubbe
Funeral Director
Licensed since 1998 with 25+ years' local service experience. Completed advanced training at Worsham College in 2021, focusing on prearrangement counseling and community outreach programs supporting bereaved families.
Julia Hermann
Funeral Director
Third-year full-time director with apprenticeship experience at family funeral homes. Holds associate's degree in mortuary science, serves as Jo Daviess deputy coroner, and specializes in agricultural community services.
Sarah Frint
Business Manager
BA holder from Northern Illinois University with 10+ years' funeral business operations experience. Manages financial arrangements, legal documentation, and digital memorial creation since 2015.
John Scibona
Crematory Operator
Retired transportation official with 30+ years' public service experience. Oversees crematory operations with strict protocol adherence to ensure dignity and accuracy in remains handling.
Questions
What funeral service options do you provide?
We offer traditional funerals, cremations, graveside services, and military honors with customizable memorial elements.
Can I plan a funeral in advance?
Yes, we provide preplanning consultations to document your wishes and lock current pricing for future services.
Are you available after regular business hours?
Our funeral directors are available 24 hours daily for immediate assistance with arrangements.
How do you handle military funeral honors?
We coordinate full military ceremonies with rifle squads, Taps, and VA benefit documentation for veterans.
What grief support resources exist?
Certified counselors offer individual sessions, support groups, and annual remembrance programs for ongoing healing.
Which communities do you serve?
We primarily serve Freeport, Dakota, Stockton, Shannon, and Pearl City areas with transportation to any venue.
