Staff
Get to know the Lunning staff, dedicated to helping families celebrate a life lived. We provide peace of mind, available 24/7 for your convenience.
Chip Readinger is the son of Dr. Harry and Marian Readinger. He was raised in New London, and was a 1978 graduate of New London High School. He graduated from Southeastern Community College in 1981 with AAS degree, he then continued on to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he gained his Bachelor’s degree in Technical Careers, majoring in Mortuary Science. He joined the Lunning Chapel family on June 1, 1983, when he began his apprenticeship working with Al Lunning. In September of 2007, Chip became sole owner of Lunning Chapel. Chip is a licensed funeral director in both Iowa and Illinois. He is a member of the Iowa and Illinois Funeral Directors Associations, the National Funeral Directors Association, Burlington Kiwanis Club, Burlington Moose Lodge #579, Eagles Aerie #150 and Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce. Chip and his wife Dana have one son, Ryan. He enjoys attending family gatherings, listening to classical music, and on a whim, you may catch him singing his favorite tunes.
Rochelle Swanner is the daughter of Richard and Barbara Rosenbury. She was born and raised in Burlington and was a 1992 graduate of Burlington High School. She received her Associates in Applied Science degree from Carl Sandburg College in 2001, majoring in Mortuary Science. After college, she moved to Quincy, Illinois and became a licensed funeral director for Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. She moved back to her hometown in May of 2006, and became part of the Lunning Chapel family in June of that year. Rochelle is a licensed funeral director in both Iowa and Illinois, she is an Iowa licensed insurance agent, she is a member of the Iowa and Illinois Funeral Director’s Associations, the National Funeral Director Association, Greater Burlington Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Noon Lions Club, Eagles Aerie #150, Burlington Moose Lodge, Burlington Gym and the VFW Auxillary. She has three children, Kourtney, Kameron and Samantha. Along with her husband Chris you will find her around town and on scenic byways riding her Harley Davidson, enjoying outdoor activities, camping and boating on the river, and enjoying time with her family and friends. She is a proud Iowa Hawkeye football fan, and enjoys attending or watching the games with her family.
Ted has been a lifelong resident of the Burlington Area. His 40 year career as a full time Iowa Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer began here at Lunning Chapel with Al Lunning in May of 1971. After graduating from Danville High School in 1971 he then continued on to receive his AA at Southeastern Community College and then graduate from Forest Park Mortuary College at the top of his class. He since has attended several specialized classes to enhance his skills in Funeral Directing, Embalming and Restorative Arts. He gladly married Barbara VanDorin in 1975 and after 40 years of marriage have 4 wonderful children including Shane, Joshua, Chelsea and David along with six of the best grandchildren around. In addition to that he has been a foster dad for over 50 children within a 12 year span. The Horn family has been very active throughout the years singing for several nursing homes, county fairs, etc. Faith in God is his greatest asset of life along with family and the satisfaction in fulfilling his calling of life to give compassion, care and encouragement to those who have lost a loved one.
Trina Tucker was born and raised in Burlington, Iowa. She is the daughter of John Diaz. She is a graduate of Burlington Notre Dame High School and Robert Morris University.
Trina and her husband Eric have one daughter Katherine.
Before joining Lunning Chapel, Trina worked in healthcare and with healthcare insurance for over 30 years. She is a volunteer for the Lend-a-Paw Food Pantry and the backpack program for the Burlington Community School District.
Trina enjoys traveling and attending community events with her family and friends and is an avid Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball fan.
Larry, along with his wife of 43 years, Linda, and four children, has been a Burlington/West Burlington pillar of the community for many years. Born and raised in Burlington he was instrumental in bringing girls softball into our community and served as director of the American Little League. He is best known as being the owner of Turley’s Menswear in Westland Mall where he assisted many customers for over 18 years. He is an active member and currently serves as Elder of his church Community of Christ. He has served and has continued to be very active at numerous community events and on several area boards including; West Burlington Bank Board of Directors, Burlington/West Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Southeastern Community College Blackhawk Booster Club for over 35 years. Larry served as President for Burlington Civic Music, Burlington Golf Club, Burlington Steamboat Days and Burlington Kiwanis. In Larry’s words, “If you can’t find me at Lunning’s, playing golf, at the Burlington Golf Club or at an SCC Basketball game, I left town.”
Rick Raleigh was born in Burlington and moved to West Burlington in 1956. He is a graduate of West Burlington High School and attended Blackhawk Junior College. He served as sergeant in the United States Army. Rick worked as a foreman at I.A.A.P and from there went to work for General Electric where he retired after 33 years. Rick is a retired auctioneer, serving for 20 years and coach for the West Burlington school system for 30 years. After his retirement from coaching for West Burlington he continued for three more years coaching for the Danville School System basketball team. He recently retired from the West Burlington City Council, serving the community for 16 years. Rick and his wife Sheryle have celebrated 52 years of marriage. They have two daughters, Shayna Woods and Carrie Applegate and 8 grandchildren. He has been part of the Lunning Chapel staff since 2009.
Sue Schowalter is the daughter of Ed and Evelyn Hockett. She was born and raised in West Burlington and a 1976 graduate of West Burlington Arnold High School. She was on the first basketball team that went to the state tournament. Sue and her late husband Pastor Mark Schowalter have served churches for Burlington, West Burlington and Genoa City, Wisconsin.
Sue is the mother of three sons, Jason, Bret and Boone and six grandchildren. You can find Sue walking everyday in West Burlington. She loves baking and cooking for anyone, lawn care, painting, rollerblading and just staying busy. She is always MOVING and has been nicknamed the “Energizer Bunny” Her family is her life. She has been part of the Lunning Chapel family for over six years.
Mikayla Walker is the daughter of Lance and Gina Walker. She was born and raised in Burlington and was a 2013 graduate of Burlington Community High School. After high school Mikayla worked as a CNA at Great River Medical Center for a year. She then proceeded to work in the medical field for four more years as a Dialysis Technician at the Southeastern Renal Dialysis Center in West Burlington. Mikayla attended Southeastern Community College for general education.
You can usually find Mikayla in her garden, kayaking, disc golfing or relaxing at home with friends and family. She loves cooking and baking and she always has an art project that she’s working on. In November of 2021, she welcomed her son, Deaken.
When Ron arrived in Burlington, his wife told him, "Don't you dare bury me in Iowa". That was 30 years ago. They recently made arrangements to do just that, and be laid to rest in Iowa.
Ron and Linda Jewett have been married 53 years. They have five children (2 homegrown and 3 handpicked) and 21 grandchildren. They have been foster parents to over 30 children. Their most recent adventure is helping raise a great granddaughter who brings a great amount of joy to their lives.
Ron retired from Flint Hills Church of the Nazarene where he served as pastor for 29 years. His greatest passion is to love people and see how God can change lives. That hasn't changed. Ron and Linda continue to be active in the church but in different roles. Their big get-away is to the Dutchman store in Cantril.
Ron states that it is a great pleasure to serve alongside the staff at Lunning Chapel.
Jon Riffel was born in Burlington, Iowa and graduated from Burlington Community High School in 1976. He holds degrees from Southeastern Community College, Iowa Wesleyan College and Western Illinois University.
He retired after 33 years as a teacher/coach in the Burlington schools and after seven years as a teacher/coach at Burlington Notre Dame.
He is an active member of Divine Mercy Parish in Burlington and serves as a 4th Degree with the Knights of Columbus.
Jon's children are Joey (Jen) Riffel of Dewitt, Iowa; Katie (John) McRoberts of Shepherdsville, Kentucky and Josh (Marissa) Riffel of Burlington. Jon enjoys spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Jon married his best friend and teacher colleague Denise (Schenk) Michelson on 2008. They continue to enjoy family time and activities.
A daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a business owner, a volunteer, and an all-around outstanding person…these are just a few of the titles that you can hear being used to describe 1981 Mediapolis High School graduate Dana McLaughlin Atkins.
Born and bred right here in southeast Iowa, Mediapolis to be exact, Dana was an active member during her high school career: she was the editor of Orange and Black, a yearbook committee member, president of Future Homemakers of America (FHA), she participated in speech contests, forensics, Thespians, and was an all-conference selection as catcher on the Mediapolis Bullettes softball team. Outside of the school system, Dana was a life-long member of Des Moines County 4-H. From showing livestock to baking, being a Teen Council member to sewing, she was involved in it all!
Upon graduation, Dana chose a career in Cosmetology ultimately owning her own salon, Dana’s Total Image, in Burlington. She served seven (7) years on the Iowa State Board of Cosmetology as an inspector and educator.
Dana married Doug Atkins in 1988 and is the proud parent of three children: Kara (Lucas) Troyer, Kayla, Kolton and grandmother to Konner Kane and Kollin Jay Troyer.
Dana has given of her time to provide for her community. She serves on the board of Burlington Area Crime Stoppers; is a past member of the South Hill Association and Des Moines County Homeless Shelter; and in her free time she is a motivational speaker. Dana was awarded the N.A.A.C.P Citizenship Award in 2014, Mayor’s “Be It Known” Award in 2015, Mayor’s Volunteer Civic Award in 2016, and the Greater Burlington Partnership’s Emmy Award in 2017.
Dana is the founder and past president of the Kayla Atkins Scholarship Foundation, for graduating college bound seniors in Des Moines County, and Co-director of Kayla's Cupboard, a flourishing South Hill food pantry in memory of her daughter, Kayla Atkins. Dana founded ©Faces of Courage 'Day of Beauty' for women with cancer. Her passion to provide for her community led to the Faith for Kayla 5K Run and Faith for Kayla Comedy Night fundraisers to which she retired after reaching her dream to provide for the youth of our area.
Dana's daily deeds of kindness, support, generosity and love is boundless and heartfelt by all. Her unique spirit of giving with open arms, loving smile, and big heart to those around her; family, friends, associates, complete strangers, and her community, on the whole, is treasured beyond words. We are lucky beyond our imagination to have her in our lives!
We welcome Dana McLaughlin Atkins!