Grinnell funeral home purchases Brooklyn’s Kloster

BROOKLYN — The Smith family (Joel, Rob and Jeff, all fifth generation funeral directors) with the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory in Grinnell announced recently that the long-time business has purchased the Kloster Funeral Home in Brooklyn.

The deal was finalized April 1.

  Buy Photo

Smith Funeral Home and Crematory now has locations in Grinnell, Victor and Brooklyn.

An open house gathering at the Brooklyn location is slated for some time in May so residents can meet staff and to answer any questions by community members.

Beth and the late John Kloster and their son, T.J., purchased the funeral home from Harold Nevehoven in late 2008. John passed away in 2016.

  Buy Photo

Beth and her son, T.J., along with his wife, Amber, have operated the funeral home in Brooklyn and the Kloster location in Marengo. The Marengo location has since been sold to Powell Funeral Homes of Williamsburg.

“We are grateful and honored to become part of and to provide care to the community of Brooklyn,” said Joel Smith on behalf of him and his family. “We would like to thank the Kloster family, Beth and T.J. for the years of dedication and service to the community of Brooklyn.”

“We wish the staff of Smith Funeral Home a smooth transition and much success for their move into Brooklyn,” said Beth, T.J. and Amber Kloster. “We hope you experience the warmth and respect we experienced while we served the community, caring for the grieving families.

“We say thank you to the Brooklyn area residents. It was a pleasure being a small part of such an awesome community.”

The Smith Funeral Home is in its fifth generation of family ownership since its beginnings in 1907 in Red Oak and later Indianola. The Smith family came to Grinnell in 1925 and purchased the C.A. Mellott furniture and undertaking business located at 929 Broad St., across the street from the Grinnell Post Office.

  Buy Photo

In the spring of 1931, the Smith family purchased a home at 1103 Broad St., now in the Grinnell Historic District, and built by the S.W. Belden family, to be used as a funeral home. Smith Funeral Home purchased the Victor location from the McAninch-Fremming Funeral Home in 1986.

“We will offer the community of Brooklyn personalized funeral and cremation options, prearrangements and cemetery monuments,” said Joel Smith. “We have an on-site crematory at our Grinnell location.”

Prearrangements that were made with the Kloster Funeral Home will be transferred to the Smith Funeral Home in Brooklyn. A letter will be mailed to those who have made prearrangements soon.

“We are just grateful to be a part of the Brooklyn Community,” said Joel.

Smith Funeral Home can be reached at 641-522-9250 in Brooklyn with any questions or to schedule an appointment to meet with staff members. The funeral announcements number is 641-236-7030.

Visit smithfh.com for more information on funeral services and support.