About Us
The Graceland Fairlawn Difference
Our pledge
We’re here to give you care and comfort as we help guide you through the planning journey.
John Renfro
President
John is the president of Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, Cemeteries and Cremation Center and Moran and Goebel Funeral Home in Decatur, Illinois. He has been an active licensed funeral director and embalmer in Illinois since 1993, and a licensed Cemetery Manager and Crematory Operator through the State of Illinois.Born in Decatur, John grew up in Lovington, Illinois, attending Millikin University and Worsham College of Mortuary Science. John served three terms as President of the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association, and was one of the first funeral directors to be elected as ICFHA President. At the completion of his presidency, the ICFHA presented John with the CEMI award - the highest award given by the organization. John continues to serve on the ICFHA’s Board of Directors, and is also a member and board member of the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association, and a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association and Cremation Association of North America.John and his wife Desiree are blessed with four children - three sons and a daughter. They are active in the Decatur community as members of Holy Family Catholic Church, where John serves as a lector and Eucharistic Minister. He is also a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Decatur.Caring for families is more than a job to John. Offering unique personalized options that allow families to honor their loved ones through ceremonies and memorialization is what drives John every day.
David Goebel
Managing Partner, Operations
David grew up on a farm in rural central Illinois the fifth of eight children. He began working at an early age on the family farm and as he got older, he would accompany his father as he went to help in his uncle’s funeral home in his hometown of Morrisonville. After graduating high school in 1982 and attending Lincoln Land Community College for two years, he began working full-time on the family farm. At the same time, he began to work part-time at a Funeral Home/Ambulance Service in a neighboring town as an Emergency Medical Technician. During his employment at the Funeral Home/Ambulance Service he was called on to work visitations, funerals, and assist with other aspects of the funeral business. It was during this time that David’s interest in funeral service re-emerged. After the death of his father in December of 1987, David enrolled at Worsham College of Mortuary Science and graduated in September of 1989. After his apprenticeship and nearly five years of employment at a funeral home in Springfield, David moved to Decatur to begin his career at J. J. Moran & Sons Funeral Home, now Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services. David and his wife Karen (Weaver), a native of Taylorville, IL, live in Decatur and are members of Holy Family Catholic Church. They are the proud parents of four children: Joshua, Kayla, Jessica and Carson; loving grandparents of Addison, Sophia, Caleb, Emma, Jacey, Cayne, Mason, Ana, Charlie, and Knox and devoted pet parents to their pet Havanese, Tate. David is a member of many organizations in the community, has served on numerous boards holding many offices, and has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Illinois since 1989
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We offer a healthy work/life balance and invite ideas and innovation. Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, Cemeteries & Cremation Center is where our team members' purpose and passion unite.
