Our Staff

John B. Zieren

Owner/Funeral Director

John graduated from Lewis University in Lockport in 1972, and from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis in 1973. John and his wife Nancy (Krebs) live in Carlyle and have 3 sons, Brad, Andrew and Adam. John is a member of St. Mary's Church, and 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He is a former volunteer fireman with the Carlyle Fire Department, and also served on the Fire Department's Board of Trustees. He served 28 years as a Deputy Coroner for Clinton County and is past president of the Egyptian Funeral Directors Association of Southern Illinois.

To contact John, call the funeral home at 618-594-3151.

Andrew J. Zieren

Owner/Funeral Director

Andy graduated from St. Louis University in 1998 and from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1999. Andy, his wife - Michelle, and their children - Maya and Tyler, reside in Carlyle. He is a member of St. Mary's Church in Carlyle and currently serves on the Parish Council.  Andy is a past Grand Knight and trustee of the Carlyle Knights of Columbus and serves on Carlyle's Economic Development Committee, serves on the Mater Dei High School Foundation Board, and as a member of the Carlyle Rotary Club and Carlyle Lake Chamber of Commerce.  

Michelle began working at the funeral home on a part time basis in 2014.

To contact Andy, please call the funeral home at 618-594-3151 or email: ajzieren@gmail.com

Email: 

Jim McClaren

Funeral Attendant

Jim McClaren has been with Zieren Funeral Home since May, 2011. He is a retired principal and teacher in the Carlyle and Keyesport school systems. Jim assists at visitations and funeral services. Jim and his wife, Marsha, live in Carlyle and attend the First United Methodist Church in Carlyle. Jim and Marsha are the parents of Mark and Matt McClaren.

Dennis Hempen

Funeral Attendant

Dennis Hempen has been working for Zieren Funeral Home since 2017.  Dennis retired from the United States Postal Service, where he worked as a mail carrier.  Dennis and his wife, Diane, are members of St. Mary's Church and are the parents of Tonia (Hempen) Deer and Ryan Hempen.  Dennis assists at funeral services and visitations.  

Michelle Zieren

Office Support

Michelle and Andy were married in 2005 and have 2 children, Maya and Tyler.  She is originally from Chatham and graduated from SIU-E.  Michelle handles day to day office support and works full time as a mom.  

Sydney Ellis

Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice

Sydney Ellis is a graduate from Central High School in 2020, and graduated from Worsham School of Mortuary Science in January 2022. Sydney gained interest in Funeral Services in the middle of High School, and has been taking time to gain new experiences and learn new things since then. She started to job shadow at Zieren Funeral Home in 2019, and eventually became a part of the team in March 2021.