Contributors

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Host

Tom Pence

Tom has been actively involved in all aspects of funeral service in the upper Midwest for over forty years.  He has always had an interest in photography, videography, and other forms of media.  Hosting a podcast was the next logical step.

Married, with three kids and three grandkids, he enjoys home roasting coffee beans, riding his Harley Softail on the two-lane roads of rural Minnesota, reading, and generally learning about the interesting people around him.  

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Co-host

Colleen Lanners

After graduating from the University of North Dakota with a degree in social work in 1997, Colleen worked as a social worker at MeritCare, Fargo. In 2000 she returned to school to pursue a mortuary science degree at the University of Minnesota. After graduating in 2002, Colleen began he employment with Korsmo Funeral Service where she worked as a licensed funeral director until returning to social work in 2012. Colleen worked at Sanford, Fargo until November 2022 when she returned to Korsmo Funeral Service. Colleen grew up in Elgin, ND.


Colleen is married to Kevin, and they have two children, Grace and James. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, and watching the Minnesota Timberwolves.


Colleen is a Minnesota and North Dakota licensed Funeral Director, a Minnesota and North Dakota licensed Social Worker and an Advanced Care Planner.

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Co-host

Shawn Nygaard

Shawn grew up in Edmore, ND, graduating from Edmore High School in 1998. He attended the University of North Dakota and graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in 2002. From 2002-2006, Shawn was employed at Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home in McVille, ND Cooperstown, ND and Lakota, ND. In 2006, Shawn accepted a position with David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, MN.


On January 1, 2020, Shawn and his wife Sarah became partners at Korsmo Funeral Service.  Shawn is a Minnesota and North Dakota licensed funeral director and is a member of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association as well as the National Funeral Directors Association. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing the FM Walleye tournaments, coaching his son in sporting events, and spending time at the lake with his family.

Guests

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Guest

Kevin Wallevand

Kevin Wallevand has been a reporter at WDAY-TV since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County. His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam, Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia, Juarez,Mexico and the Middle East. He is an multiple Emmy and 4-time National Edward R. Murrow award recipient.

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Guest

Taylor Wilson

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Tim Bauer

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Guest

Tracee Capron

Tracee Capron, Executive Director of HIA Health.

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