About Us

The 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.

In 1923, Henry Meiselwitz became the second generation to own the Meiselwitz Funeral Home and Furniture Business. He was instrumental in the building of an addition at the Fremont St. location to have a separate funeral home entrance.

Carl Stumpf and Edward Krostag later joined the firm as licensed Morticians, along with William Curry and Roger Schneider serving as assistants.

The funeral and furniture business was operated together until 1958, when a new and modern funeral home was built at 815 6th St. This era also marked the addition of the third generation of the Meiselwitz Family joining the firm. Charles Meiselwitz joined the staff in 1957 and oversaw the completion of the new facility.

John Vollstedt purchased the funeral business from Ann Meiselwitz, widow of former owner Charles Meiselwitz, in 1986. John began his career with the firm in 1980. John oversaw updates of the interior, an addition of the new Foyer in 1997, and a new parking area in 2003. The funeral home has gone through extensive changes. Edward Vollstedt, John's Father, served as assistant to John for several years. In 1988, Jean DeTroye joined the staff in the role of secretary. Devoting Many years of her energies and sensitivity to the mission of the funeral business. Jean Retired in 2015. In 1996, a Kiel native, Michael DeTroye, joined the firm as a Licensed Funeral Director. After working with John for 16 years, he purchased the Funeral Home in 2012. In 2022, a major renovation of both interior and exterior changed the funeral home entirely.

On the occasion of the funeral business's 80th anniversary, Owner Henry Meiselwitz captured the essence of the business in these words: "Our sincere consideration of your problems in time of bereavement has always been part of our tradition. But more important than our own opinion, it's what those we have served have said that has built our enviable reputation over the past 80 years. It's what you take for granted that forms the basis of our service, our continued dedication to serve you faithfully." As Meiselwitz-Vollstedt-DeTroyeFuneral Home celebrates more than 125 years of service, Henry's quote accurately reflects the way we do business today and remains the basis of the quality service we strive for with each family we serve.