T he combining of the furniture and funeral business was not an uncommon arrangement at a time when entrepreneurship in America was growing at a fast pace. The situation was no different in Kiel, When on October 31, 1898 Carl J. Meiselwitz opened a funeral and furniture business in a 30 by 50 foot building at the corner of fourth and fremont St.

The business was purchased from Emil Hanske and August Struck, who were also engaged in the funeral business.

Known affectionately in the 1950's as "Grandpa" to hundreds of Kiel residents, C.J. took hundreds of kids swimming every summer and planted many trees in the city parks. He single handedly carried on the maintenance of the Kiel city cemetery.