George and Michael Gedon purchase Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home, rebrand as Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC
By Christopher Miller
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Yost-Gedon Funeral Home & Cremation Services LLC has been in continuous operation for over 180 years, operating as a funeral home a year and a half before Clinton was established as a county. In October of 2022, the Gedon Family saw an opportunity to grow. “It only made sense to expand our footprint,” Gedon said.
Dean K. Wetzler Jr., owner and operator of the Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home, 320 Main Street in Mill Hall was ready to retire after 52 years of service to the Mill Hall, Renovo, and surrounding areas.
Dean’s son Keefer Wetzler also a licensed funeral director and Dawn Daubert Drake, a licensed Funeral Director from the Renovo area, along with Dean’s wife Linda and his amazing staff have supported Dean through his many years in business. Dean had purchased the funeral home on June 30, 1970, from Kenneth McCloskey’s widow after Mr. McCloskey had died unexpectedly in April of 1970. The McCloskey Funeral Home had been previously owned by A.L. McCloskey and later by his son Kenneth and together this father and son had owned the business for over 50 years before Mr. Wetzler purchased it. Dean’s main concern in retiring and selling the business was to not sell to a conglomerate. Dean and George had covered for each in the past and this was an opportunity for Yost-Gedon to expand and for Mr. Wetzler to retire.
The expansion consists of the former Yost-Gedon Funeral Home purchasing the former Dean K. Wetzler Jr., Funeral Home in Mill Hall. Both businesses, Yost-Gedon and Dean K. Wetzler Jr., will be united under a new branding and business name now to be called Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC with George and Michael Gedon operating at both locations.
The Yost-Gedon Funeral home has a unique history. John French Sloan, a cabinetmaker and carpenter by trade, was also the town undertaker. For a great number of years, Sloan was the only undertaker in Clinton County.
Over the years, the elder Sloan passed the business on to his son who then sold it to Charles Lauer, and then on to Benjamin Harris in 1936. John Yost purchased the business in 1949 and operated it until 1984 when he sold it to George A Gedon, George graduated from Northampton Community College, part of the requirements to be a licensed funeral director, an apprenticeship is required. George who was born in Lock Haven, and spent summers and holidays at his grandparents’ homes in Lock Haven, enjoying the river and mountains was elated when Mr. Yost offered George to be his apprentice. George purchased the business in 1984 and has been operating it solely since.
George married Catherine Baney in 1986. Together, they raised 3 children while living at the funeral home in Lock Haven. Michael (Katie Corbett) Gedon, Kristen (Evan) Fisher and Kelly Gedon. They are also blessed with 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. All three children and Cathy have been very active in the funeral home business. “This a definitely a business where there are days when all hands are on deck,” said George.
Kristen and Kelly have been instrumental on the technology side, most recently during the pandemic, while utilizing the Gedon Funeral Home Facebook page to live stream services. Cathy has always been busy behind the scenes and assisting with various aspects of the business.
Michael, who has decided to follow in the family business, also attended mortuary school at Northampton and has been a licensed funeral director since 2012. Michael, who has been working side by side with his father since he was as young as 3, always knew he would eventually make this his career. “I grew up living on the second floor of the funeral home and there were times in the middle of the night, my dad would wake me up to assist him…this is the life I have always known”
“Two licensees on board make us more efficient with more flexible scheduling,” said George, “With the addition of our new Mill Hall location, families can choose which facility is more convenient for them to hold services or appointments for pre-arrangements. We are adding additional elements to our aftercare program which will give survivors local assistance to be able to find therapy if needed through a local service.
The funeral profession, just like many other professions is always changing, the one thing we never want to change is our commitment to the people of Clinton County and being involved in charitable organizations and being able to give back to our community. For all funeral directors, it’s not an easy profession but it also can be rewarding. “The most rewarding part of this job is simply knowing you have helped families in their darkest hours. We understand how difficult it is to lose a family member or close friend, we too have been there. Our goal is to support our grieving families, help them to fully understand their options and to assist each family with the care and compassion they deserve.,” said George.
“We will be reaching out to families who have pre-arrangements with the Dean K. Wetzler, Jr. Funeral Home and we will be more than happy to go over arrangements and answer any question,” said George. If you would like to call and discuss the many different pre-planning options, please call, and allow our knowledgeable staff to assist you at 570-748-4525.
We, as always, are committed to the families of Clinton County and have been since 1838.
Any questions can be directed to Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC at 570-748-4525.
