Staff | Lunning Funeral Chapel (2024)

Chip Readinger Funeral Director, Owner

Chip Readinger is the son of Dr. Harry and Marian Readinger. He was raised in New London, and was a 1978 graduate of New London High School. He graduated from Southeastern Community College in 1981 with AAS degree, he then continued on to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he gained his Bachelor’s degree in Technical Careers, majoring in Mortuary Science. He joined the Lunning Chapel family on June 1, 1983, when he began his apprenticeship working with Al Lunning. In September of 2007, Chip became sole owner of Lunning Chapel. Chip is a licensed funeral director in both Iowa and Illinois. He is a member of the Iowa and Illinois Funeral Directors Associations, the National Funeral Directors Association, Burlington Kiwanis Club, Burlington Moose Lodge #579, Eagles Aerie #150 and Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce. Chip and his wife Dana have one son, Ryan. He enjoys attending family gatherings, listening to classical music, and on a whim, you may catch him singing his favorite tunes.

Rochelle Swanner Funeral Director/Embalmer, Certified Crematory Operator, Certified Prearrangement Counselor

Rochelle Swanner is the daughter of Richard and Barbara Rosenbury. She was born and raised in Burlington and was a 1992 graduate of Burlington High School. She received her Associates in Applied Science degree from Carl Sandburg College in 2001, and continues to serve of the Board of Mortuary Science. She became part of the Lunning Chapel family in June of 2006. Rochelle is a licensed funeral director in both Iowa and Illinois, she is an Iowa licensed insurance agent, she is a member of the Iowa and Illinois Funeral Director’s Associations, the National Funeral Director Association, Greater Burlington Partnership, Chamber of Commerce and the Burlington Noon Lions Club. She has three children, Kourtney, Kameron and Samantha. Along with her husband Chris you will find her around town and on scenic byways riding her Harley Davidson, enjoying outdoor activities, camping and boating on the river, and enjoying time with her family and friends.

Maggie Guzman Funeral Director/Embalmer

Maggie Guzman is the daughter of Mark and Julie Wessel. She was born and raised in Keokuk, Iowa and was a 2002 graduate of Keokuk Senior High. She received her Associates in Applied Science degree from Southeastern Community College and majored in Mortuary Science at Des Moines Area Community College. Maggie is a licensed funeral director in Iowa and joined the staff of Lunning Chapel in the fall of 2023. She is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

She and her husband Lance have one son, Jackson, they reside in Fort Madison, Iowa. For many years they served in ministry together in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Republic, Missouri, until they decided to move back to Southeast Iowa to be with family. She serves on the Fort Madison Athletic Boosters and volunteers for several activities her son is in. In her free time, you can find her court side watching her son play basketball, enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend or in the kitchen cooking/baking for friends and family. Her specialty in the kitchen is homemade Mexican food. Most of all she loves being with family.

Ted Horn Funeral Director/Embalmer, Certified Crematory Operator

Ted has been a lifelong resident of the Burlington Area. His 40 year career as a full time Iowa Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer began here at Lunning Chapel with Al Lunning in May of 1971. After graduating from Danville High School in 1971 he then continued on to receive his AA at Southeastern Community College and then graduate from Forest Park Mortuary College at the top of his class. He since has attended several specialized classes to enhance his skills in Funeral Directing, Embalming and Restorative Arts. He gladly married Barbara VanDorin in 1975 and after 40 years of marriage have 4 wonderful children including Shane, Joshua, Chelsea and David along with six of the best grandchildren around. In addition to that he has been a foster dad for over 50 children within a 12 year span. The Horn family has been very active throughout the years singing for several nursing homes, county fairs, etc. Faith in God is his greatest asset of life along with family and the satisfaction in fulfilling his calling of life to give compassion, care and encouragement to those who have lost a loved one.

Trina Tucker Office Manager

Trina Tucker was born and raised in Burlington, Iowa. She is the daughter of John Diaz. She is a graduate of Burlington Notre Dame High School and Robert Morris University.

Trina and her husband Eric have one daughter Katherine.

Before joining Lunning Chapel, Trina worked in healthcare and with healthcare insurance for over 30 years. She is a volunteer for the Lend-a-Paw Food Pantry and the backpack program for the Burlington Community School District.

Trina enjoys traveling and attending community events with her family and friends and is an avid Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball fan.

Larry D. Turley Funeral Assistant/Ambassador

Larry, along with his wife of 43 years, Linda, and four children, has been a Burlington/West Burlington pillar of the community for many years. Born and raised in Burlington he was instrumental in bringing girls softball into our community and served as director of the American Little League. He is best known as being the owner of Turley’s Menswear in Westland Mall where he assisted many customers for over 18 years. He is an active member and currently serves as Elder of his church Community of Christ. He has served and has continued to be very active at numerous community events and on several area boards including; West Burlington Bank Board of Directors, Burlington/West Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Southeastern Community College Blackhawk Booster Club for over 35 years. Larry served as President for Burlington Civic Music, Burlington Golf Club, Burlington Steamboat Days and Burlington Kiwanis. In Larry’s words, “If you can’t find me at Lunning’s, playing golf, at the Burlington Golf Club or at an SCC Basketball game, I left town.”

Rick Raleigh Funeral Assistant/Ambassador

Rick Raleigh was born in Burlington and moved to West Burlington in 1956. He is a graduate of West Burlington High School and attended Blackhawk Junior College. He served as sergeant in the United States Army. Rick worked as a foreman at I.A.A.P and from there went to work for General Electric where he retired after 33 years. Rick is a retired auctioneer, serving for 20 years and coach for the West Burlington school system for 30 years. After his retirement from coaching for West Burlington he continued for three more years coaching for the Danville School System basketball team. He recently retired from the West Burlington City Council, serving the community for 16 years. Rick and his wife Sheryle have celebrated 52 years of marriage. They have two daughters, Shayna Woods and Carrie Applegate and 8 grandchildren. He has been part of the Lunning Chapel staff since 2009.

Sue Schowalter Funeral Assistant/Ambassador/ Office Assistant

Mikayla Walker Funeral Director Assistant

Mikayla Walker is the daughter of Lance and Gina Walker. She was born and raised in Burlington and was a 2013 graduate of Burlington Community High School. After high school Mikayla worked as a CNA at Great River Medical Center for a year. She then proceeded to work in the medical field for four more years as a Dialysis Technician at the Southeastern Renal Dialysis Center in West Burlington. Mikayla attended Southeastern Community College for general education.

You can usually find Mikayla in her garden, kayaking, disc golfing or relaxing at home with friends and family. She loves cooking and baking and she always has an art project that she’s working on. In November of 2021, she welcomed her son, Deaken.

Ron Jewett Funeral Assistant/Ambassador

When Ron arrived in Burlington, his wife told him, "Don't you dare bury me in Iowa". That was 30 years ago. They recently made arrangements to do just that, and be laid to rest in Iowa.

Ron and Linda Jewett have been married 53 years. They have five children (2 homegrown and 3 handpicked) and 21 grandchildren. They have been foster parents to over 30 children. Their most recent adventure is helping raise a great granddaughter who brings a great amount of joy to their lives.

Ron retired from Flint Hills Church of the Nazarene where he served as pastor for 29 years. His greatest passion is to love people and see how God can change lives. That hasn't changed. Ron and Linda continue to be active in the church but in different roles. Their big get-away is to the Dutchman store in Cantril.

Ron states that it is a great pleasure to serve alongside the staff at Lunning Chapel.

Jon Riffel Funeral Assistant/Ambassador

Jon Riffel was born in Burlington, Iowa and graduated from Burlington Community High School in 1976. He holds degrees from Southeastern Community College, Iowa Wesleyan College and Western Illinois University.

He retired after 33 years as a teacher/coach in the Burlington schools and after seven years as a teacher/coach at Burlington Notre Dame.

He is an active member of Divine Mercy Parish in Burlington and serves as a 4th Degree with the Knights of Columbus.

Jon's children are Joey (Jen) Riffel of Dewitt, Iowa; Katie (John) McRoberts of Shepherdsville, Kentucky and Josh (Marissa) Riffel of Burlington. Jon enjoys spending time with his kids and grandkids.

Jon married his best friend and teacher colleague Denise (Schenk) Michelson on 2008. They continue to enjoy family time and activities.

Dana McLaughlin Atkins Desirologist, Funeral Assistant/ Ambassador