07/14/2025

IFDA Region 1 Director

Matthew Thompson

Illowa Embalming & Transfer Services

Moline, IL

Born and raised on a farm in rural South Dakota, Matt graduated from Montrose High School 1 of 13 students in 2001. After high school Matt attended Iowa Lakes College where he played baseball and graduated with his Associate of Arts in 2003. In the fall of 2003 Matt attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and worked at Weinstein Funeral Home in Wilmette and Chicago where he served his apprenticeship after graduating in the fall of 2004. Once his apprenticeship was completed, he went on to work at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Rockford and later at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home in Belvidere. In 2007 Matt joined DeRoo Funeral Home in Moline from 2007-2011. An opportunity arose to go back home and work for Dakota Embalming & Transport in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was there that he worked and learned running a trade service before returning to the Quad Cities to start his own trade service. In 2017 Matt was united in marriage to Brie Frazelle Thompson and they currently own and operate Illowa Embalming & Transfer Services and Two Rivers Cremation along with his father Mark Thompson. In his 21+ years of licensure Matt has helped over 400+ funeral homes and served over 25,000 families.