About Us

On August 1, 2023, Scott and Rachel became the third family since the 1930s to own and operate Behner Funeral Home. They are excited at the opportunity to serve Fairfield and the surrounding communities. 

Scott was born in Keosauqua and grew up in Van Buren County, graduating from Harmony High School in 2005. Scott began his career in funeral service while in high school, working for Brian Schmitz of Schmitz Funeral Homes in West Point, Donnellson and Farmington. After graduating from the Mortuary Science Program at Carl Sandburg College in 2008, Scott served his apprenticeship at a funeral home in Missouri. Throughout his career, he has worked at funeral homes in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, with the last 12 years on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities. Scott is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, and a licensed life insurance producer in Iowa. 

Scott and Rachel have two children, Benjamin and Bindi, and a standard poodle, Lola. They enjoy traveling to Maine and Boston and are avid Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins fans. The family are members of St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield. Scott is a member of Fairfield Lions Club, Knights of Columbus #4092, and Elks Lodge #1192. 

Rachel lived in Van Buren County her entire childhood, graduating from Harmony High School in 2004. She graduated in 2008 from Iowa Wesleyan College with a degree in Secondary English and began her teaching career at Bowling Green High School in Bowling Green, Missouri. She later taught in Kewanee, Illinois, and she spent her last eight years of full-time teaching at Geneseo High School in Geneseo, Illinois. Rachel made the decision to stay home with their two kids beginning in 2020, and she was a substitute teacher when their youngest reached school age. Rachel will be working in the office at the funeral home and begin working with families as a pre-need counselor and aftercare coordinator. 

Scott and Rachel have two children, Benjamin and Bindi, and a standard poodle, Lola. They enjoy traveling to Maine and Boston and are avid Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins fans.  The family are members of St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield. When not working at the funeral home, Rachel devotes a lot of time to community service in Fairfield. Rachel is a member of Fairfield Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis Builders Club advisor at Fairfield Middle School, Fairfield Women's Club, Fairfield Public Library board member, and a Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.

Arnold Weirup is a native of Maquoketa, Iowa. He received his Iowa State Funeral Director's License in 1988 and joined the staff here at Behner Funeral Home. Arnie and his wife, Denise, are the parents of a son, Kyle, and twin daughters, Kayla and Krystal.  The family attends Fairfield Friends Church. Arnie and Denise continue to actively work at the funeral home following their retirement in ownership.

Patti has been a licensed funeral director for 30 years, and we are blessed to have her experience on staff. Patti and her husband, Steve, have one son, Kyle, and six grandchildren. When she isn't at the funeral home with us, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and being outdoors. 

 Jim retired from the National Guard in 2002, and works at Behner Funeral Home. Jim and his wife Joan are the parents of one son and have five grandchildren. They are members of the First United Methodist Church, Fairfield, IA.

Dave and his wife Rhonda, were born and raised in Fairfield. He works part-time for Behner Funeral Home & Crematory, INC. Dave and Rhonda are members of the First United Methodist Church. He has served on various committees.

Dennis Smithburg was born in Fairfield.  He moved to Phoenix in 1964. In 1965, Dennis married Carolyn Kinyon of Tipton.  She moved to Arizona, and they both completed High School in Phoenix.  Dennis graduated from Arizona State in 1971.  Dennis and his family returned to Fairfield in 1974.  He taught in the Fairfield District for 10 years. Dennis was Supervisor at Fairfield Aluminum for 10 years and Maintenance Supervisor for Dexter Foundry for 10 years.  Retired 2009 to the farm.  Dennis and Carolyn have 8 children, 25 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren.

Ryen just earned a degree in Mortuary Science from Carl Sandburg College and passed her boards. She will be completing her apprenticeship at Behner Funeral Home. Please welcome her to the Fairfield community. She remembers spending summers in Fairfield with her best friend, Fred and Nancy Behner's granddaughter.