Our Team
We take pride in being the most professional, courteous, and caring funeral directors in the industry. Coming from a diverse background of work and life experiences, the Stonegate team is the lifeblood of the organization's success in helping our clients serve families in their time of need. We take great pride in going above and beyond for our clients and the families they serve (whom we often never even meet).
Michael J. Dijak
Managing Partner / Funeral Director
Hometown: Papillion, NE
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science -Truman State University
Favorite quote: "Life will pay whatever price you ask of it." -Tony Robbins
Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur who has a passion for developing people and growing businesses in local communities. Although new to the funeral industry, Michael has always preferred service-oriented work like this that has a tangible impact on every day people in the community. And he's very excited to have just recently started his Funeral Director Apprenticeship! Michael brings with him almost a decade’s worth of executive management, enterprise sales, and development experience and looks forward to helping Stonegate's clients.
Matthew Seago
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Mortuary Operations Partner
Hometown: Blue Springs, MO
Education: Associate's Degree, Mortuary Sciences -Kansas City Community College
Favorite quote: "The purpose of life is a life on purpose." -Robert Byrne
Matthew is an integral part of the Stonegate team who brings years of experience working with families, Funeral Directors, and large scale crematories. Matthew oversees Stonegate's cremation operations on a day-to-day basis and is also responsible for maintaining the exceptional quality of Stonegate's Signature Service Experience by staying in constant contact with each of our clients.
Thomas Hieber
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Embalming Operations Manager
Hometown: Clear Lake, IA
Education: Associate's Degree, Mortuary Sciences -Florida State College
Favorite quote: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Thomas is the lifeblood of Stonegate's care, preparation, and trade embalming operations. He has worked in a number of capacities at both large and small facilities over the course of his career. Currently, he oversees the daily operations of our trade embalming teams and also performs the majority of our autopsy, long bone, and special tissue donation cases. With years hundreds of cases under his belt, Thomas is an incredibly talented embalmer.
Ms. "Bertie" Bertha Lee
Emotional Support / Funeral Service Dog
Hometown: Unknown, Rescued from Multiple Abusive Homes
Education: University of Unlimited Snuggles & All Day Naps
Favorite quote: "Life is hard, and then you nap."
-Author Unknown
Bertie joined the Stonegate team shortly after she was nursed back to health through the help of the Kansas City English Bulldog Rescue Organization. When she's not "on the job" helping meet with families (always doing her best to break the ice sometimes by breaking wind) she stays close by Michael's side. Anyone and everyone is welcome to stop in and say hi to Bertie, she doesn't know a stranger despite her abusive past.