James Heuvel, the funeral director with Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee, will retire Feb. 16 after serving the greater Grand Coulee area for the last 14 years, the company announced.

An open house reception will be held at the Strate Funeral Home, 329 Grand Coulee Ave., Grand Coulee, on Friday, Feb. 16, from 12 – 3 p.m. for those that would like to thank him for his service and wish him the best in his retirement.

Heuvel has been in funeral service for 32 years, beginning as an insurance agent with Purple Cross Insurance, helping families prepare their final wishes in advance in north central Montana.

He accepted a position as funeral director assistant with O'Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls, Mont., then moved to Seattle, where he served as a removal technician with S.C.I. at Bleitz Funeral Home.

Heuvel went on to Evergreen Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington, where he became a licensed funeral director and worked until 2006.

He went to work as funeral director at Hazen & Jaeger Valley and Thornhill Valley Funeral Homes in Spokane Valley until 2009 when he joined Strate Funeral Homes. Heuvel has since cared for the families of Grant, Ferry, Okanogan, Douglas and Lincoln Counties, including the Twelve Bands of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Heuvel trained with Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, is a licensed insurance agent, certified crematory operator, and completed mass fatalities training with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He was honored with the Dignity Century Club 2021 award, Life Well Celebrated, Dignity Honors Most Distinguished Top Performer Awards for customer satisfaction. "I am here to serve my families, not the other way around," has been his personal philosophy.

"This is the most difficult decision of my professional career," he said of his retirement. "I shall deeply miss serving my friends and neighbors."

Strate Funeral Home will continue to honor and serve families in the Grand Coulee area, working with limited hours until a new person can be hired, they said.

The office will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment, but that is subject to change, said Mike Strite from the company's Davenport location.

"We will still have staff available 24 hours a day to serve families with Strate Funeral Home in Davenport ... covering the service area," Strite said. People should feel free to call 509-633-1111 with any questions, he said.