Schrader Funeral Homes Staff

HAROLD A. "SKIP" SCHRADER
President and Co-owner

Skip is also proud to be a fourth-generation family co-owner of Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory. Skip is semi-retired, but still maintains an active part in managing the funeral home. Skip and his wife, Daisy, live in Ballwin, and are often seen on the golf course at Forest Hills Country Club, where they are members. They enjoy traveling. Skip enjoys being active in the Bonhomme Lions Club.

RUTH SCHRADER ARFT
Secretary-Treasurer and Co-owner

Ruth is the Secretary-Treasurer of the company, and a fourth-generation Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory co-owner. While Ruth is semi-retired, she still is active at the funeral home and in her church, St. John United Church of Christ, where she's been a member all of her life.

Ruth is also a member of the St. John United Church of Christ Ladies Guild and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Ruth's late husband, Hank Arft, was a fixture at Schrader Funeral Home for more than 50 years, and a former first baseman for the St. Louis Browns professional baseball club in the 1940s - 1950s.

STEVEN A. SCHRADER
Vice - President

A fifth-generation family member active in the day-to-day affairs of the business, Steve, his wife Cathy and their daughters Jenny & Kelly live in a century-old Victorian home. In his free time, Steve enjoys carpentry, working on their home, fishing and the outdoors.

PEGGY ARFT-GOETHE
Vice President

Peggy is the daughter of Ruth Schrader Arft and the late Henry I. "Hank" Arft. Born into a funeral home family, she received her funeral director's license in 1981. Peggy lives in Ellisville with her husband, Dennis Goethe and their dog, Dakota. Peggy is an avid supporter of animal causes and is a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Manchester, MO, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the V.F.W. Peggy is one of two fifth-generation family members actively involved in the business.

DENNIS GOETHE, CFSP, MBIE

A Missouri and Illinois licensed funeral director and embalmer, Dennis has been with Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory since 1991. He and his wife, Peggy Arft-Goethe, live in Ellisville.

Dennis' hobbies include computers, the internet and maintaining his collection of old cars.

CATHY SCHRADER
Administrative Assistant

Cathy is a native of St. Louis, and attended St. Louis University. She and her husband, Steve Schrader, are kept busy by the responsibilities of raising their two daughters, Jenny and Kelly.

BOB JENKINS
General Manager

Bob entered funeral service in his home town of Bonne Terre, MO in 1976. He graduated from Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1978 and has been a licensed embalmer and funeral director in Missouri since 1979. He has spent the last twenty years in management with two national companies. Bob joined the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory in 2008 and is excited to be a part of the West County community. He and his wife Annette live in Wildwood, MO with their two dogs.

TROY R. BRANT
Funeral Director/Embalmer

Troy Brant joined the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory family in 2005 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Troy was born in Jacksonville Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1994 with a degree in Mortuary Science.

Troy currently lives in Belleville, Illinois and enjoys going to Cardinal Baseball games and playing sports in his time off.

JORDAN FRICKE
Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jordan is originally from the small town of Hermann, MO. He moved to St. Louis in 2003 to pursue a career in Funeral Service as a funeral director and embalmer. Jordan joined the Schrader Funeral Home family in 2004. He graduated from Forest Park Community College of Mortuary Science in 2005 with honors and was the class vice-president.

When Jordan is not at work he enjoys visiting family back home and any outdoors activities. Jordan has been a St. Louis Cardinals fan all of his life and dreams of the Cards winning the World Series.

WILLIAM F. HAMMETT
Funeral Director/Embalmer

A 1976 graduate with a degree in Mortuary Science, Bill currently resides in Pacific, MO with his wife, Michelle. Bill has one son, a daughter, and a granddaughter.

He has been associated with the funeral home since moving to the St. Louis area from Kansas in 1993. His duties at Schrader include funeral arranging and directing, and is one of four embalmers for the firm. In Bill's spare time, he enjoys boating, reading, the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Cardinals, and being a new grandpa.

RICK HENRY
Funeral Director/Embalmer

Rick has been in the funeral profession since 1977 and has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1980. He graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas. Rick joined the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory staff in 1997. He has served in many different branches of funeral service, in management, as a guest lecturer for civic organizations, and as a coordinator of workshops and special events. Rick has been an active member in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 32nd degree. In his free time, Rick enjoys collecting antiques and funeral home advertising fans and spending time with his friends and his Cocker Spaniel (Mr. Lucky).

BRAD MARKEL
Funeral Director

Brad is a St. Louis native and resides in Wentzville with his wife, daughter, and numerous pets. Brad has been active in Funeral Service since 1992, and became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1993. Brad joined the Schrader staff in 2004.

Brad finds great reward in assisting families during their greatest time of need. He is an avid sports fan and especially enjoys Blues Hockey and Cardinals Baseball. In his spare time, Brad also enjoys reading, collecting, sports cards and memorabilia and spending time with his family.

BRIAN D. MARTIN
Funeral Director

Brian is a life-long resident of St. Louis. He, his wife of 12 years, Christina, and children Zachary and Brian currently reside in the south suburbs of St. Louis. He is a graduate of the Metro Christian Academy and attended Evangel College in Springfield, MO. Brian has been actively involved in funeral service since 1991 and a licensed funeral director since 1994. He joined the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory staff in 2003.

In Brian's free time he enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a local Harley Owners Group, coaching his son's junior football league team, and spending time with his wife and children in the beautiful outdoors of Missouri.

JANET M. SULLIVAN
Funeral Director

Janet Sullivan has a bachelor of science degree from Fontbonne University and became a licensed funeral director in 1986. She arranges and directs funerals and has been on staff at Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory since 1997.

DAVID J. WANKO
Director of Embalming
Funeral Director/Embalmer

Dave is a native of St. Louis, MO and has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 25 years. David graduated from Forest Park Community College of Mortuary Science in 1979 with honors and was class president. He also serves as an Embalming Practicum Instructor. Dave is also a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelors Degree in Human Resource Management. He has been with the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory for over 25 years.

Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, Karen, daughter, Shelly, and his two Yorkie Terriers, Micki & Mandi. Outside of Missouri, Florida is his favorite place. Dave's favorite sport is NASCAR Winston Cup. He also enjoys fishing and gardening.

RYAN ZWYER
Funeral Director/Embalmer

Ryan is a native of Stryker, OH and has been a St. Louis resident since 1998. He graduated from St. Louis Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science in 2002. Ryan is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and has been with the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory family since 2000. Ryan is a member of Gardenville-Cache Masonic Lodge and a member of the Moolah Shrine.

PETER J. SIMONIS, CFSP, CPC
Manager, Advance Planning Programs

Peter began in funeral service in 1982 and has been a licensed funeral director since 1985. He has been with Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory since 1996 and serves as the Family Service Manager. Peter is a member of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce and the Eureka Merchants Task Force. In his free time, Peter enjoys golf, ballroom dancing, hockey and working in his stained glass studio at his residence in Lake St. Louis.

JOHN AVERY, MA, CT, CFSP, PFC
Grief Specialist

John Avery is a native of Wayne, Michigan. He holds a Master's Degree in education with extensive post-graduate work in counseling. He is also a Certified Thanatologist in Death, Dying & Bereavement, Certified Funeral Service Professional and a Certified Professional Family Counselor.

John was a funeral director for Schrader from 1986 until his retirement in 2004. He designed and implemented the aftercare program for Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory which includes working with families following a death, providing short-term therapy, resources and referrals. John is also a resource person to schools, churches, and community organizations and provides seminars on death and grief issues.

John is a former public school teacher, and a diaconal minister in the United Methodist Church. John has fifteen years experience in pastoral counseling, church music, and Educational Administration.

John and his wife, Peggie, live in Manchester Missouri. They have four grown daughters, five grandchildren and one dog. In his spare time, John enjoys reenacting as a Civil War undertaker/embalming surgeon. He is also active in the St. Andrew Scottish Society of Greater St. Louis, on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Tartan Day Festival, and is very involved in Manchester United Methodist Church.

PEGGIE AVERY
Documents Coordinator and Sunshine Club Director

Peggie Avery is a native of Kirkwood, MO and graduated from Webster College with a Bachelor of Music Education. She taught preschool and elementary music before becoming a Director/Administrator of three Early Childhood Centers. In 2000, Peggie joined the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory staff as a greeter. After three years, a full time position as Documents Coordinator became available. Peggie is responsible for the filing of all death certificates. She has recently been named the Director of the Schrader Sunshine Club, a social support group for anyone who has suffered a loss. She coordinates the plans for luncheons and various day trips for the Sunshine Club.

Peggie is married to John Avery, also a staff member at the funeral home. They have for daughters, five grandchildren and one spoiled dog. Peggie is a docent at Faust Park, volunteering in the Historic Village, is a member of The St. Andrew's Society of Greater St. Louis, and a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

NANCY A. DAVIS
Office Administrator

Nancy is a 1974 graduate of Lafayette High School in Ballwin. She attended Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting in 1978. Nancy came to the Schrader Funeral Home & Crematory in August 1984 to work in the office. In this capacity, Nancy helps process all the necessary paperwork for the family's funeral arrangements that Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory is privileged to serve.

Nancy now lives in the St. Charles area with her dog and two cats. She is a member of the Lafayette Church of Christ in Ballwin and a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. In her free time, Nancy lives to watch and go to Cardinal baseball, Rams football and Blues hockey games.