ABOUT US

History

The Memorial Chapel of Waukegan at 1521 Washington St. was opened in December of 2008 by Daniel R. Patch and Daniel R. Patch, Jr. The Patch family purchased the building from the Marsh family.

The building was home of the Marsh Funeral Home for almost 70 years. The Marsh family sold the firm to a large national funeral conglomerate in 1997. They ceased operation at that location in 2007.

The Memorial Chapel serves all the people of Waukegan as well as its large Hispanic population. The firm has Spanish speaking staff members and also boasts a very large chapel and has ample parking.

Our Staff

Daniel R. Patch, Sr

Dan was born in Waukegan and is a lifelong resident. He is a fifth generation Lake Countian, descendant of two pioneer Lake county families. He has been associated with the funeral home for over forty years. From 1964 to 1967 he was associated with the funeral home as a student and part time employee. In 1969 after his release from the military he returned to Peterson Funeral Home as an employee and purchased the firm in 1978. He is a graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science.

Dan married Theresa Laffredi in Waukegan in 1966 and they have three children, Dana (John) Iskalis, Dawn (Brett) Stickels and Daniel R. (Michelle) Patch, Jr. as well as seven grandchildren.

Dan has been active in the community his entire life, belonging to National, Illinois and Northeastern Illinois Funeral Director Associations, he is past president of Northeastern, also a member of Homer Dahringer American Legion Post 281, past president of Waukegan Lions Club, member of Waukegan Moose Lodge 706, Knights of Columbus 731, past member of the Waukegan Jaycees as well as a member of the NRA, Early Ford V-8 Club and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Waukegan Historical Society and Newport Township Historical Society.

Dan was drawn to funeral service with a deep desire to help families who have suffered a tremendous loss. He has spent his entire adult life doing just that and plans to do so for many more years. To him funeral service is not just a job but a true calling.

Daniel R. Patch, Jr

Dan was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois and is a lifelong resident. He spent his life growing up around the funeral business learning from and being inspired by his father, Dan Patch Sr., to one day become a funeral director.

Dan attended the College of Lake County and soon after graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1995 and has since been employed by Peterson and Patch. His years dedicated to the funeral profession have given Dan the opportunity to fulfill his life passion servicing the families of our community.

Dan has been active in the community for many years. In 2000 he served as the president of the City Club of Waukegan, and is currently a member of the Exchange Club, Waukegan Moose Lodge 706, and Knights of Columbus 731. Dan is also very involved with the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where he had served as president from 2004-2006. He is also a current member of both Illinois and National Funeral Directors Association.

In 2000, Dan married Michelle Miscenic of Waukegan and they currently have two children, Oliver (7) and Cecilia (18 months). He values his time with his wife and kids and is extremely dedicated to his family. Dan also enjoys attending sporting events and playing golf with his friends and family.

Kenneth P. Gyger

Kenneth was born in Waukegan and was raised in Winthrop Harbor. He has been involved in the funeral business since he was a young man. He has felt the desire to help others since he was very young.

That compassion for others needs is what led him to this line of work. He attended College of Lake County as well as graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2010 and received the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association Award.

He has been employed with Peterson & Patch Funeral Home since 2007.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus 731, National, Illinois and Northeastern Illinois Funeral Director Associations.

Kenneth enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially his nephew and three nieces. He is an avid Chicago Bears and White Sox fan. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and restoring the funeral home's 1941 Packard hearse and 1938 Ford Coupe.