Geelan Funeral Home

06/01/2026

Not all funeral homes are owned by local families.

Many funeral homes today are owned by large corporations with decisions being made hundreds or thousands of miles away.

At Geelan Funeral Home, local ownership means local accountability. When you call, you'll speak with the people who own and operate the funeral home. When your family needs us, we're here.

Our commitment is simple: compassionate service, personal attention, and care you can trust from a family that lives and works in the same community you do.

Because local ownership still matters.

05/29/2026

Most families are completely unprepared for the first steps after a death occurs.

In this week’s FAQ video, we explain what families should do immediately after someone dies and who to contact first.

FAQ Series: What Should I Do Immediately After A Death Occurs?

1) Pause and contact the appropriate people (hospice, 911, etc.)
2) Once the death has been legally pronounced, the funeral home will come and guide you through the next steps.
3) Know that you do not need to have everything figured out right away. Funeral directors are here to help when it matters most.

If you would like to begin the preplanning process or learn more about your options, you can start the conversation here:
https://www.geelanfuneralhome.com/pre-plan/simple-online-preplanning-form

05/28/2026

Marjorie "Margie" Ann Gustoff of Spencer passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Spencer Hospital, at the age of 85.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE VISITATION
Monday, June 1, 2026
9:30 - 11:00 AM
Geelan Funeral Home
Spencer, Iowa

SERVICE
Monday, June 1, 2026
11:00 AM
Geelan Funeral Home
Spencer, Iowa

CELEBRANT
Andy Geelan

BURIAL
North Lawn Cemetery
Spencer, Iowa

To read her full obituary or leave a message of sympathy for her family, please follow the link below. Geelan Funeral Home is assisting her family with arrangements.

View Marjorie "Margie" "Gustoff's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/28/2026

Upcoming Service Reminder:

Rev. Curtis "Curt" Batschelet of Spencer passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at his home in Spencer, Iowa, at the age of 57.

VISITATION
Friday, May 29, 2026
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Geelan Funeral Home
Spencer, Iowa

SERVICE
A private service will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026.

BURIAL
Riverside Cemetery
Spencer, Iowa

To read his full obituary or leave a message of sympathy for his family, please follow the link below. Geelan Funeral Home is assisting his family with arrangements.

View Rev. Curtis Batschelet's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/25/2026

This morning, we attended the Memorial Day Service at Spencer High School, and they did a wonderful job honoring those who served our country.

On this Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who gave so much for our freedom. We also hold close the memories of the veterans we have been honored to serve at our funeral home and the families who continue to cherish them every day.

05/22/2026

We’re starting something new! FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Friday.

Each week, we’ll take a few minutes to answer the most common questions we hear from families about funeral planning, cremation, preplanning, costs, and what to expect during arrangements. Our goal is simple: to bring clarity to a process that often feels overwhelming.

At Geelan Funeral Home, we believe families deserve personal and honest answers, straightforward information, and no pressure.

If you have a question you’d like us to cover in a future FAQ Friday, use this link to submit any questions: https://www.geelanfuneralhome.com/about-us/contact-us

Check back each Friday for a new topic.

05/21/2026

We’re humbled to be nominated in the Spencer Media Group People’s Choice Awards in the Funeral Home category. As the only locally owned funeral home in Spencer, our mission is to serve families with transparency, honesty, compassion, affordability, and the personal care they deserve.

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support and trust this community has shown our family and staff. It is an honor to serve the families of our area each and every day.

We appreciate your vote and continued support!

You can cast Your Vote Here! https://smgpeopleschoice.com/vote/ #

— Geelan Funeral Home

05/21/2026

During National EMS Week, we want to take a moment to thank all EMS personnel and First Responders for the care, compassion, and quick action they provide every day to our communities.

At Geelan Funeral Home, we are proud to sponsor Vital ICE — a free medical alert platform that allows you to securely store important medical information such as blood type, allergies, medications, medical history, emergency contacts, and more. This information can be quickly accessed by EMS and other First Responders when every second matters.

Getting started is simple:
• Download the Vital ICE app on your phone
• Enter code 4030
• Fill in your medical information

It’s FREE, easy to use, and could make a big difference in an emergency. Thank you again to all EMS professionals for everything you do!

05/20/2026

The "Avenue of Flags" has been a long-time tradition here in Spencer! The organization is in need of some more volunteers to help with display prep, display setup, and display lowering. Use this link to sign up: https://www.aof-spencer.com/volunteer

Founded in 1964 by Spencer residents Jerry Dean and Frank Thomas, the Avenue of Flags began as a heartfelt way to honor local veterans by flying their burial flags proudly instead of allowing them to be tucked away and forgotten.

Inspired by a similar display in Red Oak after the passing of Jerry’s father, World War I veteran Ross C. Dean, the first display featured 90 flags and quickly grew into a cherished Spencer tradition.

Today, nearly 1,600 flags are displayed each Memorial Day throughout Riverside and North Lawn Cemeteries, serving as a powerful tribute to the service and sacrifice of veterans.

Use the link below to sign up and help volunteer!
https://www.aof-spencer.com/volunteer

05/15/2026

We were invited by Spencer Middle School to come and present about serving families as a funeral director and what it is like to own a business.

Andy and Ron were able to speak to several different 8th graders about the role a funeral director plays in their community.
The students had many good questions and were very interested!