Plan Ahead

Make a time of grief easier for your family by planning ahead for your funeral wishes.

Following the loss of a loved one, grieving families have to answer more than 100 funeral-related questions. When you’re hurting and want nothing more than to grieve with close family and friends, those 120 questions can feel like 500.


But you can do something about it! By planning ahead for funeral wishes now, you can protect your loved ones from added stress and strain during a time of grief. And we make it a simple process!

Check out this short video on advance funeral planning.

Schedule a Chat with our Preplanning Specialist

To get started with advance funeral planning today, you can schedule a chat with our Preplanning Specialist, download our resources below, or plan everything from the comfort of home with our online planning tool.

Book A Meeting

Download Our Free Resources

a page of a funeral planning checklist with a person writing on it

Thoughtful Decisions Guide

With this fill-in-the-blank guide to recording your funeral wishes, you can give your family a clear road map to celebrating your life the way YOU want. ï»¿

Download Now
a page of a funeral planning checklist with a person writing on it

"7 Ways to Personalize a Funeral” eBook

Personalization is key to creating a final tribute that feels meaningful and special. This eBook shares helpful ideas on how to get started! ï»¿

Download Now

Plan Online from the Comfort of Home

With our online planning tool, you can do all the advance preparation from your own kitchen table. And if you have questions, our team is available to help at any time.

It’s three simple steps:

  1. Make Your Selections: Answer key questions and choose the best option for you
  2. Add Customization: Incorporate special details to create a personalized funeral plan
  3. Finalize Your Plan: Create your account, choose payment options, and sign

Want to get started? Click the link below!

Plan Ahead Online

Frequently Asked Questions about Advance Funeral Planning

Do you have questions about what to expect when planning ahead for funeral wishes? Check out these frequently asked questions, and if you don’t see the answers you need, submit a question below.

  • What are the benefits of advance funeral planning?

    You can make funeral prearrangements in 3 easy steps:


    1) Contact us to get started: Our planning professionals are ready to assist you and walk you through the process step by step.


    2) Select your funeral preferences: Learn about your options, and choose the type of funeral service you desire, including any special requests.


    3) Finalize arrangements: Finalize your arrangement with a payment plan for the services that can be paid in installments. (Setting up a payment plan is not required, but we do recommend it.)


    Book a meeting with our Preplanning Specialist to get started!

  • What steps are involved in planning ahead for funeral wishes?

    You'll need basic information about yourself or the person you are planning for, such as date of birth, marital status, parents' full names, etc. Besides the biological information, you'll need to choose burial or cremation, what type of service you'd like, what cemetery to use, etc. Our caring staff will help you with this process.

  • What information do I need to plan a funeral in advance?

    You'll need basic information about yourself or the person you are planning for, such as date of birth, marital status, parents' full names, discharge papers for veterans, etc. Besides biological information, you'll also need to choose service details (burial or cremation, what type of service you'd like, what cemetery to use), but our caring staff will walk your through the process.

  • Is pre-paying for my funeral plan required?

    Pre-paying is not required, but it is something to thoughtfully consider. By taking care of the financial aspects of a funeral plan now, you remove a future financial burden from your survivors and give everyone - including yourself - peace of mind. 

  • If I move, can my funeral prearrangement plan go with me?

    Yes, your funeral prearrangement plan is portable. If you have plans at another funeral home and would like to move them here, we will help you do that. If you move away from the area and would like to transfer your arrangements to another funeral home, we will assist you with that as well.

Want to Start Planning Now?

About Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory

“They’ve done so much for us...”

Our funeral homes have a long history of serving the families of Moline, Orion, and the surrounding areas. This legacy keeps us focused on the needs of the families we serve and assists us in continually looking for ways to improve our services and facilities to meet those needs and those of future generations.

1891

Esterdahl Mortuary was established when A.V. Esterdahl opened his funeral home in downtown Moline. He starts a legacy of attentive service in the Quad-City area. The Esterdahl family name quickly became associated with quality funeral service.

1932

Esterdahl Mortuary relocated to 1216 5th Avenue. In those days, most funeral homes were either run out of family homes or refashioned from storefront properties. This facility was significant because it was the first Esterdahl location specifically designed to be a funeral home. After the new location was built, a brochure was published to showcase its amenities, it can be viewed here.

1965

Phil Krebs comes to work for Esterdahl Mortuary while teaching school. He lived above the funeral home and helped out by washing cars.

1970

Phil Krebs joins the staff of Esterdahl Mortuary full-time.

1972

Phil Krebs becomes a partner at Esterdahl Mortuary.

1981

To expand community outreach and provide greater personal assistance in times of need, Phil Krebs and Don Esterdahl purchased the Kirk & Huggins Funeral Home in Orion in 1981, a family-owned funeral home with a rich legacy of caring for families in Orion since the mid-1920s. The firm is known today as Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl.

1989

Don Esterdahl retires and Phil Krebs becomes the sole owner of both locations. Together with his wife Mary Ann, he continues to build upon the family tradition of trust and service for which the Esterdahl name is known.

1998

Mary Ann Krebs carries on Esterdahl Mortuary’s mission after Phil’s death. She and three children; Meaghan, Chip, and Bart, along with Sandy Bingman continue to serve families with the highest level of compassion, dignity, and respect in times of need.

2001

Esterdahl Mortuary closes its downtown location and moves to a new facility on John Deere Rd. The new location enables Esterdahl to offer the families of the Quad-City area greater comfort and convenience.

2011

Brothers, Chip and Bart Krebs take ownership of both funeral homes and continue their family legacy.