At Abels Funeral Homes and French-Hand Funeral Home, we are honored to have earned the trust and confidence placed in us by those that we serve. We pledge to offer respectful and dignified professional service, service that a family should expect, service that a family deserves. From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each staff member at our funeral home contributes in an important way. We are very proud of our staff of caregivers who were recently recognized nationally for their excellence in funeral service by the National Funeral Director's Association.
 David
D. Hilsabeck
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager - Creps-Abels Funeral Home
David Hilsabeck has been serving bereaved families in Marshall and Hardin Counties ever since choosing funeral directing as a career in 1995. Dave was raised just a few miles from Eldora on a farm near Liscomb , Iowa and has been in central Iowa his entire life. Dave understands central Iowa values of family and community and strives to provide meaningful personalized services to all he serves.
In 1980 Dave was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Carol Hoppenworth, and they have two children Staci and Kyle. Carol works as a Human Resources Representative at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown and is very involved with various activities in the funeral home. Dave and Carol live at the funeral home in Eldora and have developed many close relationships in the community.
Dave and Carol are members at the First Baptist Church in Steamboat Rock and Pine Lake Country Club. Dave is a member of the Eldora Rotary, the Eldora Lions Club, the National Funeral Director's Association, and the Iowa Funeral Director's Association.
 William Camp
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager – Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home
Biography Coming Soon
 Dave Hemann
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager - French-Hand Funeral Home
Dave grew up on a farm near Osage, Iowa and graduated from Osage Community High School. After graduation, he worked for Wallace Computer Services in Osage. With the encouragement of his family, Dave later decided to make a career change after twenty-seven years in the printing industry. He completed his necessary education at North Iowa Community College in Mason City, Iowa, and then attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. After graduation, Dave worked for a large funeral home in Des Moines, Iowa.
Dave and his wife Terry lived in Des Moines until the opportunity became available in 2007 to move to Reinbeck. They were ready and willing to join this community. Terry is also working with the funeral home as a Family Services Counselor.
Dave and Terry are the parents of two daughters, Amanda and Brittany. Amanda is married to Andy Muller and they have three children, Alex, Maddie and Grace. Amanda is a RN and Brittany is enrolled in the nursing program at North Iowa Community College. Dave and Terry are members of Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Reinbeck and The Oak Leaf Country Club in Reinbeck. Dave is a member of the Iowa Funeral Director's Association, the National Funeral Director's Association and The Iowa Firemen's Association.
 Rebecca Camp
Licensed Funeral Director
Manager – Doyen-Abels Funeral Home
Rebecca Camp was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Waterloo West High School. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Hawkeye Community College in 2004. Rebecca attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL where she obtained her Associate of Applied Science degree. She completed her apprenticeship in Skokie, IL where she met her husband Bill. She later transferred to a funeral home in Highland Park, IL where she worked as a licensed funeral director.
When the opportunity arose to move back to the area, Rebecca and Bill were very excited to join the community of Wellsburg. They look forward to becoming involved in Wellsburg and the surrounding community activities. Rebecca and her husband feel honored to be able to serve the other communities of Grundy Center, Eldora and Reinbeck, in addition to Wellsburg.
 Larry
and Grace Kadolph
Funeral Service Assistants
Larry has been helping at the funeral home since 1997. He
is a lifelong resident of the Eldora area and graduated from
the Owasa High School in 1953. He spent two years in the United
States Army. Larry worked for Farm Service for 30 years before
retiring in 1998. Larry has been a member of St. Mary’s
Catholic Church his entire life. Larry is married to Grace
who also helps at the funeral home. Larry & Grace have
been married 31 years. Grace is from Humboldt, Minnesota and
has worked for United Suppliers in Eldora for 31 years and
hopes to retire in a couple of years. Larry and Grace both
enjoy working with people and try to help comfort in a time
of sadness. Larry and Grace have seven living children and
two deceased children.
 Glenn
and Elinor Hinders
Funeral Service Assistants
Glenn and Elinor have been with the funeral home since 2000.
Glenn was born and raised near Ackley. He is a United States
Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of Buena Vista College
and Truman State University. He was a high school counselor
for 35 years; the last 27 were in Eldora and Eldora-New Providence
Schools. He retired in 1993 and remains active at St. Paul
Lutheran Church, in the Eldora Lions, the American Legion,
and Dollars for Scholars. He enjoys golf and bowling.
Elinor was born and raised near Wellsburg and attended Ellsworth
Community College. She was an Optometric Assistant for 35
years for Dr. C.G. Gould and Dr. Dan Dye in Eldora. Since
retirement she remains an active member at St. Paul Lutheran
Church, and serves as secretary of both the Board of Dorothy’s
Senior Center and the Hardin-Marshall Mental Health Board.
She also volunteers at the Eldora Public Library and enjoys
quilting, playing bridge and golf. Glenn and Elinor have three
children, Teresa of Cedar Falls and Keith and Steve of Eldora.
They are grandparents to five wonderful grandchildren.
 Harry
Dole
Funeral Assistant
Harry has been a Funeral Assistant with the Engelkes-Abels
Funeral Home since April of 1998. He is a lifelong resident
of the area. Harry was raised near Eldora, and graduated from
Hubbard High School. He has lived in Grundy Center for 37+
years. Harry served the community schools for 29 years, as
a teacher, a coach, and an administrator.
He is a charter member of the Grundy Center Kiwannis Club,
and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and American Legion.
Harry is a member of the Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. He
serves on the Board of Trustees for Grundy Center Municipal
Light and Power Company and the Communications Utility.
Harry and his wife Jean have four children, Lisa of Philadelphia,
Joe of Morton, Illinois, Jeff of West Des Moines, and Kerri
of Iowa City. They also have six grandchildren. Harry enjoys
spending time with family, attending school and community
functions, and fishing and golfing.
 Al
Miller
Funeral Assistant
Al joined the staff at Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes
in 2004. He is a lifetime resident of Grundy Center, graduating
from Grundy Center High School in 1962. Al retired as Maintenance
Superintendent from the Grundy County Secondary Road Department,
having served the county for
37 ½ years. He is married to
Grundy Center native, Carol Abels. Carol is employed as office
manager at the Grundy County Engineer's office.
Al is a life member of Amvet Post #17. He is a member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, having served as Trustee.
When not working, Al enjoys gardening and yard work in the summer, and in the winter he enjoys watching basketball and football.
 Mike
Lovell
Funeral Assistant
Mike joined the staff at Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes
in 2005. He and his wife Karen farm west of Reinbeck. For
many years, Mike was a teacher at the high school and middle
school levels. He also coached in the high school and middle
schools in the area. Mike continues to substitute teach part-time.
Mike and Karen have three adult children, Paul, Paula, and
Kerry.
 Jake Hemmen
Funeral Assistant
Jake joined the staff at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in June, 2007. Jake and his wife Wava, have lived in Grundy Center for the past 48 years. He grew up and graduated from Ackley High School in 1957. After graduation he served 2 years in the Army, stationed in Giessen, Germany. He was employed by Simpson Furniture in Cedar Falls and later employed by Frederick Furniture in Grundy Center as a floor mechanic and salesman for 17 years. In 1992 he chose to become an employee of Grundy Mutual Insurance in Grundy Center and later became the Manager of the Company, retiring from that position on December 31, 2007.
Jake is a member of the Colfax Center Presbyterian church, rural Holland, and has served both as a Deacon and Elder. He is a member of the Grundy Center Kiwanis, and enjoys being involved in community activities.
Jake and Wava have one daughter, Staci Cardamon, son in law, Joe Cardamon, two grandchildren, Anna and Joey who attend the Ankeny school system in Ankeny, Iowa. Grandpa and Grandma enjoy attending their grandchildrens many extra-curricular activities.
 Robyn Plocher
Aftercare Coordinator
Robyn was born and raised in Iowa. The daughter of a pastor and an advocate for Asian orphans during the tumultuous 1960's and ‘70's, Robyn was introduced to the realities of death and loss at an early age.
Robyn attended Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa where she studied Religion and Psychology. She received her Master of Divinity from Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana and is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church.
Robyn has come to understand that her life mission is to companion those experiencing grief on their journey toward rediscovering hope and joy. She has fulfilled this mission as a Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator and as the Founding Director of Rick's House of Hope for Grieving and Traumatized Children in Iowa.
Robyn is certified as a Children's Trauma Consultant and School Trauma Specialist by the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. In 2006 she received her Death and Grief Studies Certificate from the Dr. Alan Wolfelt's Center for Loss and Life Transition in Colorado. She is an inspiring public speaker and teacher, having spoken to Area Education Agencies, Scott County American Heart Association's Corporate Sponsors, The National Hospice Organization's Annual Symposium and the Alabama State Hospice Organization among many others organizations.
Robyn sees herself as one who bears witness to the sacred stories of others so that they might touch again those things which are hope-filled and life affirming. Robyn says: "Sacred stories are all the stories that cherish us. They wrap their arms around us and hold us. They affirm worth. They honor our spirit and all the things we love. They expose difficult truths, lift our spirits and point us toward hope."
"As Aftercare Coordinator at the funeral homes, I will strive to be your trusted companion".
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