Meet Our Staff

Alan C. Kerrick

Licensed Mortician - Managing Partner - Funeral Director

Alan C. Kerrick, CFSP, Licensed Mortician, Managing Partner & Funeral Director, joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 1981.

Alan graduated from Caldwell High School and San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. He also attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell and Boise State University. Alan is a Licensed Mortician in the State of Idaho and is also Certified as a Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He currently is the Managing Partner and is a practicing Embalmer and Funeral Director. Alan is a fourth generation Canyon County resident. He is married to the former Lisa Canterbury of Nampa and has four children, Adam, Kara Sue, Ali and Charlie; and seven grandchildren, Dylan, Logan, Riley, Taylor, Braxton, Pearl and Rose. He attends Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church and is a member of Caldwell Lodge No. 1448 B.P.O.E. and a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell. He is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, a member and past district trustee of the Idaho Funeral Service Association, and a member and past president of the Treasure Valley Funeral Directors Association. He enjoys skiing, boating, motorcycling, yard work, running cross country, and time spent at the family cabin.

Douglas K. Reinke

Licensed Mortician - Managing Partner Emeritis - Funeral Director

Douglas K. Reinke, Licensed Mortician, Managing Partner Emeritis & Funeral Director, joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 1973.

Doug attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell and Boise State University. He is a graduate of San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and has practiced as a Director and Embalmer at Dakan Funeral Chapel since 1973. Doug is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, the Idaho Funeral Service Association and the Treasure Valley Funeral Service Association. Doug is married to the former Debbie Malone of Jerome and has two children, David and Katy; and five grandchildren. He attends Faith Lutheran Church. He is a member and past president of the Caldwell Rotary Club and is also a member of the Caldwell Exchange Club. His hobbies include bicycling, fishing, golfing and backpacking.

Valden G. Christensen

Licensed Mortician - Funeral Director

Valden G. Christensen, Funeral Director, joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 2004.

Valden grew up on a farm in Rigby, Idaho and came from a large family of 13 children. He married the former Valerie Benson of Logan, Utah, and they have three children, Spencer, Annika and Carrie. Valden graduated from Utah State University in Family and Human Development and Gerontology. He then went on to mortuary school in Mesa, Arizona, where he graduated in 2004 with honors. The Christensens are active with the service club "American Mothers" in Caldwell and Nampa, where Valerie serves as president. Valden is a member of the Caldwell Lions Club and serves on the board. They attend church in the Caldwell 10th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where Valden has served as Bishop. Valden is an Eagle Scout.

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Titus Fay

Funeral Director Resident Trainee

Titus joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 2011. He moved to Idaho in 2004 and loves Idaho Immensely. His hobbies mainly take place outdoors. He is an avid Paramotor pilot and spends many hours flying and experiencing life from the skies. He also enjoys exploring Idaho and finding hot springs in the mountains. Hiking, four wheeling, skiing, traveling, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his family is also activities that he enjoys. He is also very involved in his local church.

Titus feels like assisting families in their time of need is a calling more than a job. He is passionate about his calling and makes sure that families are well cared for. 

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Chantele L. Hensel

Administrative Assistant-Benefits Coordinator

Chantele (Dice) Hensel was raised in Nampa, Idaho and graduated from Vallivue High School. She was very active in the horse community and enjoyed an agricultural-based lifestyle.
Chantele married her best friend Michael in 2008 and has four children, Zach (age 24), Garrett (age 21), Paige (age 17) and Audie (age 13). In late 2014, after she sent Audie to kindergarten, she went back to another passion she had developed throughout the years, newspaper design and production. Chantele is the publisher of The Caldwell Perspective, a monthly community generated newspaper and the 2014 Caldwell Chamber of Commerce Rookie Business of the Year.
Chantele’s love of people has been the driving force in her life. Chantele began working for Dakan Funeral Chapel nights and weekends serving families during their time of need. Currently, she is our full time Administrative Assistant and Benefits Coordinator. Chantele is continuing her education to become a funeral director.
For Chantele, this is not a job, it is a calling.

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Lisa C. Kerrick

Administrative Assistant - Family Benefits Coordinator

Lisa C. Kerrick, Benefits Coordinator & Administrative Assistant, joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 1998.

Lisa was raised as Lisa Canterbury in Nampa, Idaho, where she attended school. She later graduated from the American Institute of Medical and Dental Technology as a Registered Medical Assistant. She married Alan C. Kerrick of Caldwell and has four children, Adam, Kara Sue, Ali and Charlie; and seven grandchildren, Dylan, Logan, Riley, Taylor, Braxton, Pearl and Rose. She loves being a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. Her hobbies include oil painting, wood crafts, and cooking. She is an active member of this community, volunteering in various ways with local schools, community sports, and city and chamber of commerce events.

Darrel Hansen

Family Service Counselor

Darrel provides funeral pre-planning assistance to families. He is fully licensed to assist in the writing of insurance policies that qualify for funeral plan trusts. Darrel can meet with you at the funeral home or in the privacy of your own home.

Ruth Rhoades

Ambassador - Receptionist

Ruth Rhoades joined Dakan Funeral Chapel in 2008 and has served as an Ambassador and Receptionist. Ruth is an active member of the Caldwell community as a member of Soroptimist. She is also very active and involved in rodeo in Caldwell and surrounding communities. Ruth attends Canyon Hill Church of the Nazarene.

James R. Dakan

Ambassador - Former Owner

James R. Dakan is a second generation owner of Dakan Funeral Chapel, being the son of T. Wilbur Dakan. Jim has been in and around the funeral business most all of his life. His earliest memories are living at the funeral chapel with his parents. Jim was raised and educated in Caldwell. After serving in the military, he graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and became licensed as a Mortician in the State of Idaho. He joined the family business and later purchased it in 1972. Jim has served our community in many ways, most notably as Mayor. He has been very active in civic clubs and fraternal organizations. He was very active in Shriner's organizations and served as Potentate for the State of Idaho, just as his father had. Jim retired from the business in 1996, but returned in 2018 and now serves as an Ambassador.

Valerie Christensen

Funeral Assistant

Valerie grew up in Logan, Utah, and is the oldest of seven children. She is married to Valden Christensen, and they are the parents of three teenagers. She graduated from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) and Utah State University with a degree in Family and Human Development. She attends the Caldwell 10th Latter Day Saints Ward and is active in her community. She has been a secretary, preschool teacher, and educational assistant and has worked with special needs children in the Vallivue School District. Most of all, she loves being a wife and mother. Valerie also likes to read, swim, sing, and travel.

Stanley V. Boster

Ambassador - Funeral Assistant

Stan was raised and educated for his first 15 years in Missouri and later moved to Wenatchee, Washington, where he graduated from high school. Stan attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon and later Boise Bible College in Boise, Idaho. He served his country for eight years with the United States Navy. Stan married the former Glenna Gehle of Caldwell and has four children, Brent, Bruce, Brenda and Brian. He also has 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Stan attends Deer Flat Free Methodist Church of Caldwell and is a member and past president and past secretary/treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell. He is also a member of the Photographic Society of America, and is an Eagle Scout.

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Nicki Wong

Amabassador - Funeral Assistant

Nicki Wong graduated from Parma High. She and her husband Lolly were long-time Parma residents. They owned and operated Wong Snowmobiles for 26 years. Nicki has two children, Todd and Paige. She is also blessed with four grandsons. She became a Dakan staff member after her retirement from Farm Credit Services. She attends Eagle Nazarene Church. Her hobbies include gardening, sewing, painting and crafts. She counts being a wife, mother and grandmother as her greatest accomplishments.

Gena Gurney

Funeral Assistant

Biography is pending at this time...

Gena's responsible for bringing loved ones into our care at the time and place of their passing.