Hagi-Baker Funeral Home operator evicted

Bryan Baker is no longer operating Hagi-Baker Funeral Home in Streator and he has been evicted by Kyle Kerestes, the building’s owner, Kerestes confirmed Wednesday.

Calvert and Metzler Funeral Home out of Bloomington is currently managing the funeral home.

Kerestes is the son of John Kerestes, who owned and operated the funeral home before his death in 2013.

According to court documents, eviction proceedings began in November and the case was closed in January.

Baker was operating the funeral home but was renting the building from Kyle Kerestes, a former funeral director who currently works as a pilot.

Kerestes would not provide further information. Baker could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Baker took ownership of the funeral home in 2017. Jack Hagi, a first cousin of Baker's grandfather, founded the funeral home. His daughter, Mary Kerestes, married John Kerestes and the two owned the funeral home until John's death in 2013 and Mary's in 2016. Their children, Kyle and Kathy, continued ownership with an outside firm managing until Baker took over.

Baker worked for 18 years as a funeral director and embalmer at what now is Solon-Telford funeral home and was co-owner there from 2002 through 2007. He left to purchase a funeral home in Peoria for six years and managed one in Dixon for three years.

The funeral home's website lists the business as Hagi Funeral Home.