Our Staff

Tim Daum and his wife Kristi hail from Cozad, Nebraska. Following high school, Tim completed his pre-requisite mortuary studies at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, and later went on to graduate from Kansas City, Kansas School of Mortuary Science. He obtained his degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service, passing The National Funeral Director’s Board Examination and earning his Embalmer License. Tim secured licensure in both Kansas and Nebraska, which he maintains today.

Kristi also attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Kearney majoring in elementary education and early childhood special education. Throughout the years she has enjoyed teaching preschool, substitute teaching, and providing early intervention services as a Service Coordinator for Early Childhood Connections in Eastern Colorado. Presently, Kristi serves as the PreNeed Insurance Agent for their firms, licensed in both Nebraska and Kansas, and is active in the funeral business, working alongside Tim. 

Tim and Kristi have three children; Alyson who enjoys living and working in the Denver area as an Intelligence Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, Brenleigh who resides in McCook and works as a Vet Tech for Red Willow Animal Clinic and Drew and wife, Olivia Daum, both recent Dordt University grads who make their home in Sioux Falls, SD. Drew is a Civil Engineer for ISG Engineering and Olivia is a Pediatric Nurse in an area hospital.

Tim and Kristi purchased their first funeral homes in Limon, Burlington, and Cheyenne Wells, CO in 2000, serving the rural communities of the Eastern Plains until 2017. They co-owned Blasé Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg and Curtis, NE from 2006 to 2023. In July 2010, Tim and Kristi acquired Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook, relocating to the area. January 1, 2024, brought the acquisition of Liewer Funeral Homes in Imperial and Wauneta, and Benkelman Memorial Chapel in Benkelman with business partners, Stephen and Kayla Mulder, who reside in Imperial.

Tim and Kristi are both actively involved in the communities they serve. Tim is a past District 7 President of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Plainsmen Sportsmen Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the Optimist Club, and the McCook Community College Booster Board. Kristi enjoys volunteering with the TeamMates Mentoring Program and the McCook Cordials and sits on numerous community boards. Alongside the Mulder Family,

Tim and Kristi are honored to provide the families of Southwest Nebraska with quality, caring funeral service.

Born and raised in Yuma, CO Stephen and his family moved to Imperial in July of 2023. Stephen attended mortuary school at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, TX graduating with the fall class of 2008. After 3 years in Colorado, he and his wife, Kayla moved to Tri-Cities WA, where they started their family and served the Tri-Cities community for 11 years. Wanting to live closer to family and engage in a small-town community once again, Stephen and Kayla are honored to be living in, working, and serving the Imperial community.

Avery Johnson grew up in Hayes Center, NE on a family farm. After graduating from high

school in 2020, she attended North Platte Community College to play volleyball, and

received her Associates of Science Degree. She continued her education at University of

Nebraska Lincoln and received her Bachelors in Biology in 2024. She obtained her

Mortuary Science degree from Des Moines Area Community College and passed her

National Board Exam in 2025.  Avery will achieve her license to practice funeral directing and embalming in the state of Nebraska in April 2026.

Avery has been working full time for Carpenter Breland Funeral Home since 2024. She is becoming active in the McCook community by being a part of the Teammates Program, volunteering at Memorial Methodist Church, and hosting a Bible study. In her spare time, she enjoys participating in the rec leagues at the YMCA, crocheting, and spending time with

family and friends.

She is very excited to be living around her hometown, supporting the community that

supported her for so many years.