Our Staff

Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.

Daniel J. Rux

Funeral Director & Owner

Dan was born in Chicago and moved to Kewanee in 1973 with his family after his parents, Gerard and Lucretia Rux purchased the Creamer Funeral Home. He attended Visitation Catholic School and then graduated from Kewanee High School in 1979. He furthered his education at BHE and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earning a degree in Animal Science. He then attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He began his funeral directing career in 1986 with his father at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee and then expanded the business with the acquisition of the Galva and Williamsfield locations in 1989. Dan married his wife Rhonda in 1986 and they raised their family in Galva until recently moving to the Kewanee Funeral Home. Dan and Rhonda are the proud parents of Adam of Chicago, Zachary and Samantha of Kewanee, Lexy of Chicago, Tauge of Engelwood, Colorado, Caleb of Chicago and Greta of Kewanee. Dan and Rhonda also have two grandchildren, Ben and Everett and their four- legged companion, Ryder.

Dan has held membership in the National Funeral Directors Association and several local civic organizations including Kiwanis Club of Kewanee, Galva Rotary, Galva Lions, Kewanee Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus. Dan enjoys serving as a Boy Scout Assistant Leader, theater productions, gardening, an occasional round of golf and visiting with his family.

William G. Burford

Funeral Director

Willie was born and raised in Galesburg graduating from Galesburg High School in 1995 and summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Mortuary Science and Funeral Service in 1997. He worked at G. Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale until relocating to Kewanee and joining Rux Funeral Homes in 2002.

He resides in Kewanee and has three children: Maddie (21), Makenna (20) and Braley (19) and through a previous marriage gained a daughter and son-in-law, Bridget (Drayson) Owens and their children and son and daughter-in-law, Cameron (Pamela) Wirth and their children.

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Funeral Ethics Association, Kewanee Elks Lodge, Black Hawk East Resource Development Committee, Ambassador Club through the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce and charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Galva. He also, as of lately emcees at various Kewanee Chamber events including the Hog Days parade. Along the lines of service, Willie is a 23-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kewanee where he is a past president twice and Lt. Governor, as well as a Walter Zeller Fellow and a Dr. Luis V. Amador recipient. He is currently the Kiwanis advisor to the Wethersfield High School Key Club and is the chair of the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day which is a position that he has held for 13 years.

In his free time, he is an avid sports fanatic, especially following his son’s college baseball games. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. Believe it or not, win or lose he is a die-hard Detroit Lions fan. Go Lions!!

Zachary D. Rux

Funeral Director

Zach is the third generation of the Rux Family to be a licensed funeral director. He joined the family business after graduating from Western Illinois University and the Carl Sandburg College of Mortuary Science.

Zach was raised in Galva and graduated with the class of 2007. He currently resides in Kewanee with his wife Samantha and their two boys Ben and Everett. Away from the business, Zach enjoys spending time with his family, landscaping, and rooting for the Bears and Cubs.

Zach is a member of the National Funeral Director Association, Saint John Paul II Parish, Kiwanis Club of Kewanee, the Gift of Hope Advisory Board, and is also a proud Eagle Scout.

Martin VanMeltebeck

Funeral Assistant

Danny Conner