Staff members of Steuerle Chapel, LTD are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to us as funeral directors and office personnel alike.
Robert is the owner, founder, and first funeral director of Knollcrest Funeral Home. Bob is a graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Bob worked at several area funeral homes before he and his wife Elaine built Knollcrest Funeral Home in 1989. They raised four children in the apartment above the funeral home before moving to a home in Oak Brook to raise their fifth. Their two oldest, Holly and Josh, have chosen to continue their father’s work and are now on staff. Bob and Elaine’s caring hand is seen throughout the facility and in the approach which they have trained their staff to follow. Knollcrest was their home, and it shows.
Joshua graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights in 2008, where he studied communication arts, film, and media. A tough time to graduate for anyone, Josh found himself doing some odd jobs around the funeral home for his dad. It took about a month for him to realize that his calling in life was not to make movies, but to follow his father’s footsteps. Josh’s knowledge of the funeral home business and deep concern for grieving families are traits that only someone who has spent most of his life at a funeral home could have. He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2010. His college degree didn’t go to waste, though. Besides all the responsibilities of a funeral director, Josh handles all Knollcrest’s media: from fixing our computers when they break, to making slide shows for visitations, to filming funerals for distant relatives. Joshua is also a licensed Life Insurance Producer, and manages the pre-need program at Knollcrest. He and his wife Martha were married in August of 2015, and live in Lombard with their Daughter Lillian and golden doodle Oliver.
Andrew Cunningham has been a fixture at Knollcrest since he began working part time as a Timothy Christian High School student in 2007. After graduating high school, Andrew received his BS in Mortuary Science from Southern Illinois University in 2013. Andrew returned to Knollcrest to train and work as a funeral director. He resides in Oakbrook Terrace with his wife, and attends church in Naperville.
Eric joined the Knollcrest family in July of 2016, bringing with him extensive knowledge of all things funeral service and a passion to serve families. Eric graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in September of 2010, after getting his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 2006. Eric enjoys golf in his free time and resides with his wife, Catie, and their two boys in Lombard. Eric is also a member of St. Pius X Parish, the Knights of Columbus Fr. Boecker Council, and the St. Pius X Parish Council.
Nora worked as a communications specialist in a company that assisted small businesses find success, following her graduation from Elmhurst University. The spring of 2017, she decided to change careers and join a small, family operated, and local business herself. Nora was accepted at Worsham College of Mortuary Science, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class as a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, and began her rewarding and humbling journey in this field. She has been working for Knollcrest Funeral Home and is now a licensed director on the staff. Nora lives in Lombard with her husband and their six fur kids. In her spare time, she enjoys a good book, warm tea, and music by some of the greats.
Becky joined Knollcrest’s staff as Office Manager in August of 2011. Her smile and friendly voice will likely be the first thing you see and hear when you visit Knollcrest. Becky grew up all over the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 1999. She then spent 6 months teaching young Zulu children in Estcourt, South Africa. She returned to attend Northern Illinois University, where she graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Over the next few years, Becky held a number of teaching and office positions, but none ever seemed to be quite the right fit. But at Knollcrest, her personality and varied skills suit both Becky and the business perfectly. She is an active member at her church in Aurora, donating her time with the children’s ministry. Becky, her husband Pete, and their two children live in the apartment attached to the funeral home, so the funeral home is never lacking an office manager.
Holly is Bob’s oldest child, and she joined the family business in 2006 when Bob asked her to come home and take over in the office. Holly graduated from Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst in 1997, and Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 2001, with a bachelor’s Degree in English and Art. She spent a year teaching high school in Guam, and a few years doing various jobs in Grand Rapids. In 2011, she became a mom and decided to work in more of a part-time role so she could focus on her new career. Currently, Holly is an active member of her church in Oak Brook where she and her husband, Ben, volunteer. She resides in Westchester with her Ben and their three daughters.
Barbara joined the Knollcrest family in October 2015 after relocating from Custer, SD when her husband, Rev. Steve Wagner, became the new pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard. Her experience both in and outside of the church have added to her position in the office here at Knollcrest. She is a mother of 3 and resides in Lombard with her husband and youngest child at the Trinity parish home.
Dorothy Postma is not only part of the Knollcrest team, but also Robert’s cousin and is endearingly called Auntie Dorothy by those in the Van Staalduinen family. Dorothy comes from a small town in North Carolina, and with that southern hospitality comes her friendly charm. She is a graduate of Calvin College, with a BA in Business and Sociology. After graduating, she moved to the Chicago area and worked in various administrative capacities before switching to full-time care of her 4 sons. She loves to keep active with swimming, church, and family. Dorothy lives locally in the Congress Knolls community with her husband and her boys.
Joanne came on board the Knollcrest team in October 2015. Joanne graduated from Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst in 1997, and Trinity Christian College in 2001, with a Bachelor of Communication Arts with a Concentration in Media Relations. Her education and background led her to become an Education and Communication Coordinator for FTD, and then an Event Coordinator for Trinity. Joanne is bright inside and out. Between her background, education, and character, she has become a perfect fit to Knollcrest’s office. Outside of Knollcrest, she is a proud baseball mom of 3 boys. She and her family live in Westchester.
Often times families have questions, concerns, or find themselves in a state of grief that may require some additional attention. Allison Brown started helping Knollcrest this side of funeral service in 2013. Allison grew up in West Chicago, and has a BA in political science from Loyola University Chicago. She is a friendly voice and a listening ear at a time when the service is over and the phones have gone quiet. Allison has a passion for music, dance, and bringing light wherever she goes.
Ron Tyler, retired guidance counselor of Willowbrook High School, joined our team in 2015 to help us greet visitors and keep the building running smoothly. The twinkle in his eye and kind demeanor makes everyone feel at home. If you talk to Ron long enough, you are bound to find a personal connection. Ron loves fishing, his family, and is an active member and elder at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard.