Meet Our Caring Team

Bill was born and raised in the Chicago area. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and later transferred to Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL, graduating in 1997. He completed his apprenticeship at Donnellan Family Funeral Services in Skokie, IL and stayed with the firm as a licensed funeral director. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from National-Louis University in Chicago.

When the opportunity arose to move to Iowa, Bill was excited to be part of a smaller town and he feels honored to be able to serve the communities of Eldora, Dike and Reinbeck, in addition to Wellsburg and Grundy Center. He enjoys volunteering for community events and attending the Orchard Hill Church in Grundy Center where he lives with his two daughters, Sydney and Emma.

Bill’s hobbies include watching movies, playing darts, spending time with his family and enjoying the girls’ extra-curricular activities.

Carol graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1975. She sold health insurance with GNB Insurance and then at PIPAC in Cedar Falls. Carol joined the staff of Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes in 2023.

Carol resides in Holland with her husband, Dan. They have two grown sons: Shane (Lynn) Blythe and their two children, Jenna and Evan; and Chad (Tiffany) Blythe and their two children, Nolan and Liam. 

In her spare time, Carol enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and going to sporting events. She is a member of Colfax Presbyterian Church and serves on the ladies' serving committee. Carol is honored to help community members preplan their funerals and take some of the burden off their families.

Chris graduated from Hudson High School in 1986. She worked in healthcare for over 30 years in medical clinics in Grundy Center and Waterloo. She also worked at Cooley Pumping prior to joining the team at Abels Funeral Home in June of 2024. 

Chris resides in Reinbeck with her husband, Brian. They have one son, Mitchell Bunz. She also has a grand-dog named Hank. In her spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with her family and friends, vacationing on the Gulf Coast beaches of Florida, and watching true crime TV and documentaries. She is a member of the Holy Family Parish, St Gabriel's Catholic Church. Chris previously served on the Reinbeck Park Board and was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for several years. She has also served on several fundraising benefit committees to help families in need. 

Chris's passion for serving other led to her to joining the team at Abels Funeral Home. She feels honored to be of service to families in their time of need. 

Larry has been helping at the funeral home since 1997. He is a lifelong resident of the Eldora area and graduated from Owasso 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.

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.

Carol joined the staff of Abels and French-Hand Funeral Homes in June of 2014. Carol recently moved back to Grundy Center after her husband, Bob Thompson, passed away in January of 2014. She graduated from Worland High School in Worland, Wyoming in 1965. She then spent many years as a homemaker and raising children. She graduated from UNI in 1995 with a General Studies degree, and worked at Collectors News, the University of Northern Iowa, and Black Hawk Abstract Company before becoming the director of the Kling Memorial Library in 2000. She retired in 2012. 

She and Bob have five children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Grundy Center and served on Session, as an Elder, and Sunday School teacher is a member of Eastern Star Coinette Chapter 273 of Reinbeck, served on the Grundy Center Chamber of Commerce, president of the Iowa Small Library Association, and president of the Grundy County Library Association. 

Carol enjoys reading, needlework, walking and spending time with friends and her grandchildren.