Watson Funeral Home

Meet the Watson Funeral Home Staff

John F. Watson

John graduated from St. Ambrose University (BA) in 1962 and received his M.S. from Northern Illinois University in 1972. He then graduated from Worsham School of Mortuary Science in 1977. While attending mortuary school he worked at Clancy Funeral Home in Kankakee. He worked there for two years prior to buying Foley Mortuary in 1978. He was elected Knox County Coroner for 4 terms starting in 1988.

John and his wife Peggy have 5 grown children: Jim (and Sheryl), Dr. John (and Lori), Josh, Molly (and Brian), and Jordan and 5 grandchildren.

He has been a member of several community service clubs. He coached basketball at Costa School for 15 years. He served on the board at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and is currently a board member of Community Bank of Galesburg. He is also on the National Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Tissue Services Division.

Mark A. Thomas

Mark was born and raised in Galesburg, the son of Gary and Karen. He is the third generation of his family to live in Galesburg. After graduating from Galesburg High School, he attended Carl Sandburg College and graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Mortuary Science and Funeral Service in 1994. Mark received his BA from Western Illinois University in 2007. He worked at Beck Memorial Home in Bloomington for 3 ½ years prior to moving back to Galesburg in 1998 when he started working at Watson Funeral Home. He was elected Knox County Coroner in 2004, a position he still holds.

He is active in many community service organizations, currently serving on the Galesburg Hospitals Ambulance Service Board of Directors, is a past president of the Galesburg Area Crimestoppers, serves on the Parish Council at Corpus Christi Church, and is on the St. Joseph’s Cemetery Association Board. He graduated from Leadership Greater Galesburg in 2005.

Mark and his wife Tricia have two sons Andrew and Luke. “After working and being part of the family at Watson Funeral Home for several years, I definitely feel we are a family and can be 'Our Family Serving Your Family.'”

Matt Gohlinghorst

Matt was raised on his family’s farm and educated in Galesburg, graduating from Galesburg High School in 2002. He graduated from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois in 2006 with a BA. He then attended Mortuary Science School at Carl Sandburg College and graduated in May 2008. He is currently serving his apprenticeship at Watson Funeral Home. He is a member of First Christian Church (DOC) where he serves as a deacon and is involved in the youth church camp program for the region. He began working at Watson Funeral Home in July of 2007 and is pleased to be mentored under the leadership of John and Mark.

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