Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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Christopher Bode Owner / President

Chris Bode grew up in Algona, Iowa. He is a 1991 graduate of Bishop Garrigan High School, 1995 graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1997 and resides in Port Byron with his wife, Dr. Dawn Bode and their two children, Makenna and Braeden. He enjoys spending any spare time with his family, usually playing or watching sports or enjoying the great outdoors.

Chris joined Gibson Funeral Home in 2008 and was given the opportunity to buy the business from Leon and Terri Gibson in 2009. He has worked hard to continue the history of providing compassionate service and dignified care of the deceased in these communities that he has the privilege to serve. Funeral service for Chris is a unique and special way to serve others in need. It’s especially rewarding in the smaller communities where lifelong friendships are often made.

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Leon Gibson Funeral Director

Leon is a graduate of Prophetstown High School; he attended Bradley University and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1967. He served with the US Army in Vietnam where he was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. He is married to the former Terri Heitzler of Prophetstown, has three adult children and three grandchildren.

Leon purchased the Port Byron Funeral Home in 1973 from Hubert Dailey and the Erie Funeral Home from Donald Reedy in 1985. He then sold both funeral homes to Chris Bode in 2009 and remains semi-active in the business. He has served on the Rock Island County Board of Public Health for many years. He is a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church, Port Byron, the Coe Lamb American Legion, Port Byron, Vietnam Veterans of America and the VFW.

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Rod Dye Funeral Assistant

Rod grew up in the Fenton area and is a graduate of Erie High School and the University of Illinois. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 1997, and was ordained Elder in the Northern IL conference of the United Methodist church in 2004. Rod retired in July 2018 after nearly 26 years as a Pastor, the last 14 1/2 years serving Erie United Methodist Church. Rod lives in Erie and has 2 adult sons and 5 grandchildren.  He thoroughly enjoys spending time with his family.

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Chester McCoy Funeral Assistant

Chester B. McCoy is a 1977 graduate of Riverdale High School. He retired from Alcoa in 2014 while continuing to serve as a licensed pastor in the United Methodist Church serving Church of the Cross, Port Byron and the Hampton UMC’s until his retirement in 2020.  Chet has been working as a funeral assistant at Gibson - Bode Funeral Homes since 2016.

Christopher Bode

Owner / President
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Chris Bode grew up in Algona, Iowa. He is a 1991 graduate of Bishop Garrigan High School, 1995 graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1997 and resides in Port Byron with his wife, Dr. Dawn Bode and their two children, Makenna and Braeden. He enjoys spending any spare time with his family, usually playing or watching sports or enjoying the great outdoors.

Chris joined Gibson Funeral Home in 2008 and was given the opportunity to buy the business from Leon and Terri Gibson in 2009. He has worked hard to continue the history of providing compassionate service and dignified care of the deceased in these communities that he has the privilege to serve. Funeral service for Chris is a unique and special way to serve others in need. It’s especially rewarding in the smaller communities where lifelong friendships are often made.

Leon Gibson

Funeral Director
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Leon is a graduate of Prophetstown High School; he attended Bradley University and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1967. He served with the US Army in Vietnam where he was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. He is married to the former Terri Heitzler of Prophetstown, has three adult children and three grandchildren.

Leon purchased the Port Byron Funeral Home in 1973 from Hubert Dailey and the Erie Funeral Home from Donald Reedy in 1985. He then sold both funeral homes to Chris Bode in 2009 and remains semi-active in the business. He has served on the Rock Island County Board of Public Health for many years. He is a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church, Port Byron, the Coe Lamb American Legion, Port Byron, Vietnam Veterans of America and the VFW.

Rod Dye

Funeral Assistant
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Rod grew up in the Fenton area and is a graduate of Erie High School and the University of Illinois. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 1997, and was ordained Elder in the Northern IL conference of the United Methodist church in 2004. Rod retired in July 2018 after nearly 26 years as a Pastor, the last 14 1/2 years serving Erie United Methodist Church. Rod lives in Erie and has 2 adult sons and 5 grandchildren.  He thoroughly enjoys spending time with his family.

Chester McCoy

Funeral Assistant
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Chester B. McCoy is a 1977 graduate of Riverdale High School. He retired from Alcoa in 2014 while continuing to serve as a licensed pastor in the United Methodist Church serving Church of the Cross, Port Byron and the Hampton UMC’s until his retirement in 2020.  Chet has been working as a funeral assistant at Gibson - Bode Funeral Homes since 2016.