Who We Are
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
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Our History
Henderson Funeral Home has offered caring and dignified funeral services to the residents of the Pekin area for more than a century. In 1900, Orville W. Noel opened the doors to the funeral home, which was originally named Noel Funeral Home, at 412 Elizabeth Street in downtown Pekin.
In 1939, Noel purchased the old "Rupert Park" estate, which occupied an entire square city block, and moved Noel Funeral Home into the 11-room Colonial style mansion. The stunning mansion was built in 1862 by Gideon Rupert, who was a pioneer settler and early businessman in Pekin and is credited with naming Tazewell County after Governor John Tazewell of Virginia.
This stately mansion still houses Henderson Funeral Home today. The Henderson family has preserved the beauty and charm of the magnificent estate over the decades, to offer their families a warm, comforting atmosphere to memorialize their passed loved ones.
In 1964, Merl Henderson became the third owner of the funeral home and soon after included his family's name on the business - Noel-Henderson Funeral Home. Merl's wife, Linda, played an integral part in the business and, in a family tradition; Merl's sons George, Greg and Don all joined the family business as licensed funeral directors.
Over 40 years later, the tradition continues with Greg Henderson and his wife, Marla, as the owners of Henderson Funeral Home. Adhering to the family values of compassion, integrity and trust, Greg and Marla are proud of the tradition of caring that has been a standard of Henderson Funeral Home for over 100 years.
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Our Valued Staff
Greg Henderson, President / Owner
Greg Henderson, the owner of Henderson Funeral Home, takes pride in the family tradition that has made Henderson Funeral Home what it is today. While preserving many of the things that have brought families back to Henderson Funeral Home time and time again, Greg has also implemented new ideas to help the community. Through Greg's guidance Henderson Funeral Home has received the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award. This mark of excellence honors firms for their outstanding community service, professional integrity and dynamic public relations programs. He has also initiated a series of grief seminars for the community hosted by nationally renowned grief specialist Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Greg has also attended seminars at the Center for Loss in Fort Collins, CO. These seminars were Funeral Service Enrichment Experience, Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Grief and Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training. He is working towards his certificate in Death and Grief Studies from Colorado State University.
Greg graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1980 and received his Funeral Director's license in 1982. Greg is a member, past president and treasurer of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin. He also was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Pekin Rotary Club in 1996 and is a past president of that organization.
Additionally, Greg is a board member and President of Pekin Main Street, Pekin Marigold Festival Committee, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Past President of IFDA District #8, as well as a member of Moose Lodge #916, Pekin Elks Lodge #1271. Greg is also involved with St. Jude, has been a VIP for the Central Illinois telethon, co-founder of the "A Toast for the St. Jude Kids" committee and did the Memphis to Peoria run for St. Jude. Greg resides in Pekin with his wife, Marla, son, Ryan, and daughters, Lauren and Mallory and grandchildren, Brayden and Alexis Phillips.
Marla Henderson, Vice President / Owner/Pre-Planning Specialist
Marla Henderson, is from the Manito-Springlake area. She is the youngest daughter of Marlowe and Alice Caulkins.
Marla received her life insurance license through the State of Illinois. And has received training for preplanning through the Academy Of Advance Funeral Planning. Marla has also attended Alan Wolfelt's seminar at the Center For Loss in Colorado on Creating a Meaningful Funeral.
Marla is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pekin Hospital League, Past Co-chairperson of the Pekin Hospital Foundation Ball, Pekin Kiwanis Club member, Pekin Women's Club, and Women of the Moose Lodge Chapter #673. Marla is also involved with St. Jude and was part of the "A Toast for the St. Jude Kids" committee. Marla resides in Pekin with her husband, Greg, son, Ryan, and daughters, Lauren and Mallory and grandchildren, Brayden and Alexis Phillips.
George Henderson, Funeral Director
George Henderson has grown up in and around the Henderson Funeral Home; he began his career in funeral service as an after hour attendant during high school. George is a 1978 graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, receiving his Funeral Director and Embalmers License in 1979. He is a two time past President of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association District #8.
Currently George is employed with the Catholic Cemetery Association of Peoria as well as assisting Greg and Marla with preplanning arrangements and at need services.
George is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in Manito where he serves as a Parish Sacristant, and Eucharistic Minister. He is also a member of the Men’s Club of the Parish and is Vice President of the Parish’s St. Frederick’s Catholic Cemetery Board.
Additionally George is a member of the Peoria Cursillo in Christianity where he currently serves on the Peoria Cursillo Steering Committee, is an Eucharistic Minister, and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria Cursillo Secretariat governing body. He also participates in the Cursillo Prison Ministry program in several local Prisons.
George resides in Pekin with his wife Carla. We are the proud parents of daughters Christine and Julie and grandparents of Maxwell Wiley.
Rod Wamsley, Funeral Director
A native of the Pekin area, Rod is a 1972 graduate of Pekin Community High School. He is a graduate of Illinois Central College, the University of Illinois and recently the mortuary science program at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg.
Rod retired from the Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Sciences and Crime Scene Services in 2006, after serving for 26 years. He taught at Illinois Central College as an adjunct faculty member.
Rod joined the staff at Henderson Funeral Home in 2007.
Rod is married to the former Connie Morris and resides in Marquette Heights. They have one son, Chad (Tara) and one daughter, Leigh. They also have three grandchildren, Jaden, Josie and Sofie. Rod and Connie are members of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in East Peoria. They both enjoy traveling to their home in Fort Myers, Florida and spending time with their family.
Al Limback, Funeral Director
Al is a native of Manito and formerly owned the Limback Funeral Homes in Manito, Mason City and San Jose. In 2005 he received his 40 year award as an Illinois Funeral Director. Following the sale of the funeral homes to Randy Maas in 1981 he moved to Colorado Springs where he owned an Entre’ Computer Center. In 1990 Al became a field representative for Federated Funeral Directors of America and resided in Des Moines, IA for18 years, retiring in 2008.
Al and his wife, Kay, live in Pekin and have two married sons and two granddaughters. As members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Morton they enjoy singing in the Church choir. Al’s hobbies include woodworking, golf and being a handyman. Most important in his life are, God and family. "It’s a joy to be back with family and friends in the Tazewell and Mason counties. It will be my privilege to serve you as part of the Henderson staff."
Mark Wilder, Deacon and Funeral Assistant / Pre-planning Specialist
Mark is a 1987 graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications.
He was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria in 2002, and is currently assigned to Saint Joseph Parish in Pekin, where he is involved in the RCIA program, Liturgy and Spirituality Committee and Prison Ministry.
He joined the staff of Henderson Funeral Home in 2010.He finds assisting families during the loss of a loved one to be a spiritually rewarding experience. "Each situation has unique requirements and we work to exceed the expectations of every family we serve. Working for a family owned and operated business allows me to spend more time attending to the details that make their journey of loss a little easier. It’s this attention to detail and personalized service that a family remembers and will help them to carry on."
His wife, Susan, and he are lifelong Pekin residents. They were married in 1988 and reside here in Pekin with our four children, Aaron, Daniel, David and Mary Bernadette.
Charles Riley
Chuck started working with the Henderson family, in August,1999, after he retired from Keystone Steel and Wire Company, in Bartonville, Illinois. He enjoys helping families through a difficult time in their lives, and is a very big asset to the staff here at Henderson Funeral Home.
He is married to Carol, and together they raised a daughter, Michelle, and granddaughter, Kristine. Their son, Michael passed away on April 25th, 2005. They enjoy the company of their grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as their activities in the St. Paul United Church of Christ. Chuck is a member of the Church Men's Brotherhood, and the Choir. He has also served a several Church Committees.
John Geiser, Funeral Assistant
John started working with the Henderson family in November, of 2006. He has found his place here to be very rewarding, in that he helps care for families in their time of need.
John is a graduate of Springfield High School, class of 1968, and a graduate of Illinois State University, class of 1972.
Many of you may know him from his work as a golf professional at Sunset Hills Golf Course in Pekin. Others may remember him from his 29 years of service as an employee of Cilco. He retired from there in June, of 2006, and came to Henderson Funeral Home just five months later.
He and his wife, Althea, raised one daughter, Shireen, who is now married. Althea and John are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Pekin.
