.png)
Pierschbacher Funeral Home
August 2023
Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street is proud to feature one of our local contributing businesses in the monthly Small Business Spotlight!
This month, we had the pleasure to speak with John Pierschbacher of Pierschbacher Funeral Home! He shared with us how he became a funeral director and the immeasurable value of having excellent staff. John proudly owns five funeral homes in south-central Iowa.
What is your name and job title ?
John Pierschbacher – owner and funeral director at Pierschbacher Funeral Home, established 25 years ago this coming October.
Tell me about the Pierschbacher Funeral Home team.
We have a great team!
​
Raymond “Bud” Moody who has been with me 20 years – plays an essential role in making sure everything runs smoothly at the funeral home every day, and for every service. He knows what needs done before most of us even see it. He has been integral in all building and remodeling projects.
​
Ashley Carroll has been with us for 10 years – although her title is office manager, she does so much more! She makes everything beautiful that is printed and is truly capable of completing anything thrown at her. She also runs the monument part of our business and helps design many beautiful and lasting tributes in the form of monuments.
​
Dave Feisel has been with us for nearly 10 years as well. We are grateful for the compassionate service he provides to our community. Although he says he is retiring and slowing down, we are very thankful he continues to help with services and is available when he is called.
​
Cherise Schrader came to us as an intern and will be a licensed funeral director in August of this year. She has proven to be very capable and well-rounded. I appreciate her big heart and desire to do things to the best of her ability for the families we serve. She will not stop until everything is perfect for a family.​
Janell Boor helps with accounting and bookwork (a definite necessity), although her real gift is in helping families through her grief counseling sessions. It is an understatement to say that we are lucky to have her with us.
​
Joe Grandstaff has recently joined the team as a funeral director and has fit right in with the rest of the team in providing caring and passionate service to those in need. We look forward to working with him for many years to come.
​
Martin Buck is a retired funeral director who still helps when needed and is the director that I did my apprenticeship with in the early 90’s and helped me choose the course I have taken. I am grateful for the knowledge and opportunities provided to me.​
I enjoy having Faye Utesch help when she can. She is a blessing to the whole community by volunteering, but we are thankful she makes time to help us when needed.
​
And my wife Jodi keeps everything on track. She is the queen of organization and accounting. Blessed to have her make time, in addition to her real job, to be part of the team.
All of these people and more make Pierschbacher Funeral Home. I am thankful and blessed to work with such dedicated and compassionate people. They know the importance of our role in the loss of a loved one, and how through our work, we can help a family celebrate a life as well as start them on the next step of their journey.
How did you get started in funeral services? Why do you do what you do?
I worked one summer for Mosher Funeral Home in 1991, and that became a calling of helping others during the most difficult days of their lives. I have fallen in love with all the communities I work in. The families I help become part of my life and my family. I guess that is why I do what I do.
Why did you choose Chariton for your business?
I am 7th and 8th generation of my parents’ families to grow up in Lucas County. I love rural southern Iowa and have strong ties to agriculture and the rolling hills of Lucas County, and I’m blessed to still be a part of raising cattle and growing corn and soybeans on the family farm for the past 30 years.
What are your biggest rewards as a funeral home director?
Over the years, it has been rewarding to provide new services, products, and start new traditions. One thing I look back on is the kitchen in the funeral home and providing warm cookies (Marilyn), snacks, and now even meals. I’m glad that we could incorporate this comfort as part of our services. Technology has been a great tool as well, allowing photos and videos to be part of the service. Many things will continue to change and we will continue to adapt to what a family wants and needs and a very crucial moment in their lives.
Visit and learn more about Pierschbacher Funeral Homes at:
