Funeral Directors
Our funeral directors act as your personal guide to help your family through every step of funeral planning.
We explain all of your options and take care of the many details such as placing the obituary in local newspapers, scheduling services, and helping plan family gatherings. We also help you submit tribute photos and ensure your wishes are followed.
Our
preplanning counselors can help you preplan funeral services to help ease your family's burden at the time of loss.
R.J. Fagle
Chief Operations Officer / Funeral Director
R.J. is originally from northeast Iowa and has been with Cedar Memorial since 1997. He oversees the day-to-day funeral operations for Cedar Memorial, Iowa Cremation and Companions for Life. R.J. works closely with the funeral directors, business services department, cemetery staff, family service counselors and aftercare specialists to ensure Cedar Memorial, Iowa Cremation and Companions for Life not only meets, but exceeds the expectations of the families we serve.
R.J. also focuses on industry best practices and internal technology to ensure Cedar Memorial staff has the necessary tools to better serve and care for you and your family. He is a member of the Marine Corp League and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. He enjoys fishing, scuba diving and spending time with his family.
Tom Willems
Manager of Funeral Services / Funeral Director
Tom graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science and is a licensed Funeral Director, serving families for over 25 years. His vast experience, unparalleled professionalism, and caring nature have helped countless people who have experienced a loss.
Tom, originally from Independence, IA, is a member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 11942 - Fairfax/Walford, and Elks Lodge #251. Tom’s family is comprised of wife, Angie and their two children, Mitchell and Kaitlynn, and beloved dog, Maci. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, boating, fishing, and snowmobiling.
Royce Lenger
Manager of Decedent Care / Funeral Director
Royce brings over 35 years of experience to the families he serves for both Cedar Memorial and Iowa Cremation. The newer funeral directors he mentors also value this experience and his extensive knowledge of mortuary science. Royce maintains Iowa and Minnesota Funeral Director Licenses and is a CANA Certified Crematory Operator. Royce’s down-to-earth manner, quiet confidence, compassion and professionalism brings great comfort to families.
Royce is a licensed pilot and enjoys attending aviation shows and events, but his greatest delight is spending time with his grandchildren.
Heidi Benson
Funeral Director
Heidi has been a Funeral Director with Cedar Memorial since 2011. She is passionate about providing every family with unique services that reflect their loved one’s life in the most personal and memorable way possible.
Heidi attended Monticello High School and graduated from Kirkwood Community College with a degree in Applied Science and Human Services. After Kirkwood, she attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago and graduated in 2007. She is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and is also a CANA Certified Crematory Operator.
Heidi organizes the Remembering Our Children event sponsored by Cedar Memorial. She enjoys gardening, traveling, cooking, being outdoors, spending time with friends and family and is an avid Hawkeye Football fan. Heidi and her husband Cody live in the Mount Vernon/Lisbon area.
Anne Harrison
Funeral Director
Annie began her tenure with Cedar Memorial in 2007 as an intern and later as a licensed funeral director. Annie’s comforting presence and attention to detail have brought solace to families mourning the loss of a loved one. Her ability to personally connect with these families makes her a welcome member of the funeral directors staff.
Annie graduated from Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, IA. She then earned Associate of Science in Mortuary Science from Des Moines Area Community College. She is also a CANA Certified Crematory Operator.
In her spare time, Annie enjoys spending time with husband Dan, and their sons, Jack and Alexander.
David A. Pfiffner
Funeral Director
David began his career with Cedar Memorial as a Funeral Director’s Assistant. After graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, he became a full-time funeral director, mostly working from Cedar Memorial West Side Chapel. David is well-versed in the funeral customs of many different faiths. His compassion and dedication for the families he serves leaves a lasting impression and inspires him to be the best at what he does.
David is a native of Cedar Rapids and enjoys spending time with his family and in his garden. He bakes delicious bread from scratch and makes an art out of celebrating the holidays.
Dan Lewis
Funeral Director
Dan joined Cedar Memorial in 2017 following a 30-year career in retail management and 9 years as a licensed funeral director. Dan’s caring and compassionate nature provides great comfort to families that have experienced a loss.
Dan received a BA in Business Management from UNI and graduated from Des Moines Area Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science. Dan enjoys biking, fitness activities and spending time with his family, which includes two daughters and one son.
Dan also has a great love for animals and is the pet parent of two cats and a few other small pets.
Lydia Cole
Funeral Director
Lydia’s compassionate nature combined with her soothing presence allows families to grieve in the way that fits them best. She listens to families and helps them create a meaningful tribute to honor their deceased loved one, while carefully managing all the details that go into a service. Originally from Waverly, Lydia completed her AA degree at Des Moines Area Community College and then graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science.
Lydia lives in Cedar Rapids with her two cats, Chai and Asher. Lydia enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants, biking and riding her motorcycle.
Logan Lenhart
Funeral Director
Logan Lenhart joined Cedar Memorial after working as a funeral director in the Washington, D.C. area for over 12 years. During that time, it was Logan’s greatest honor to serve our veterans who were interred or inurned at Arlington National Cemetery. Logan also appreciates the experience he earned from serving a wide variety of cultures and faiths during that time.
Logan grew up in Van Horn and graduated from Benton Community High School in 2003. He attended Indian Hills Community College before transferring to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Logan’s family consist of his lovely wife, April, and their twins, Brandon and Sophia. Logan enjoys spending time with his extended family and is an avid fan of Michigan Wolverines football and the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team.
Jeremy Meyer
Funeral Director
Originally from Oelwein, Jeremy Meyer was drawn to funeral service because of his compassionate and caring nature. Jeremy graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001 and then attended the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, becoming a licensed funeral director in 2002.
Jeremy joined Cedar Memorial in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience in assisting grieving families of all faiths and cultures. Jeremy and his wife, Kristi, are the proud parents of two children, Jonathan and Jenna. They also have two dogs, Daisy and Bailey. When not assisting families, there’s nothing Jeremy enjoys more than attending his children’s activities and spending time camping with his family.
Andrew Haring
Funeral Director
Andrew Haring has been a member of the Cedar Memorial family since high school; he started as a seasonal cemetery worker while in high school and then progressed to the role of funeral assistant, who even served our veterans by playing Taps during interments.
Andrew graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a teaching degree and then completed the Mortuary Science program through DMACC. Andrew’s natural kindness and compassion, along with his skill for educating, help him to serve grieving families with the utmost care and professionalism. A Cedar Rapids native, Andrew enjoys spending his free time fishing, visiting with family and friends, and cheering on the UNI Panthers. He is also a member of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church.
Elizabeth Waller
Funeral Director
Liz joined Cedar Memorial in 2022 as a Licensed Funeral Director. She and her family moved from Indianola, where they lived for six years. Liz graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2003, and she worked as an apprentice and later a Licensed Funeral Director in a northern suburb of Chicago until 2016. Liz and her husband, Ryan, have two children, Hayden, and Emma. She enjoys family activities, baking, reading, and cheering on her favorite sports teams.
Liz appreciates the opportunity to assist families in their time of loss. Every family is unique and honoring a life well lived is what inspires Liz the most.
Brittany VerHoef
Funeral Director
Brittany began her time at Cedar Memorial in May 2022 as a funeral assistant while she completed her Mortuary Science degree at DMACC. She graduated in October 2022 and began her yearlong Funeral Director internship. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Iowa in 2012 and then spent nearly ten years working in various administrative positions at a mental health clinic. During that time, Brittany developed a passion for helping people navigate all the paperwork and hurdles that can come with obtaining medical care. She hopes to bring that compassionate nature and aptitude for planning and organization to assist those who have suffered a loss in her work as a Funeral Director.
Brittany lives in Iowa City with her elderly Jack Russell, Pepper, in a home she renovated herself and in her free time cares for hospice dogs, travels, meets with her book club and spends time with her family.