If you’ve lived around Iowa County for more than a few years, you know the white building on West Washington Street. For decades, Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo IA has been the place where locals went when the unthinkable happened. It was a fixture. A landmark of sorts. But if you’ve driven by recently or looked up an obituary online, you might have noticed a new name popping up alongside the old one: Powell Funeral Homes.
Change is weird, especially in a small town. When a business as personal as a funeral home changes hands, people naturally get a little nervous. You wonder if the people who know your family's history are still there. You wonder if the "new guys" are going to do things differently.
Honestly, the story of what's happening with Kloster right now is actually a pretty cool example of how small-town legacies stay alive, even when the names on the paperwork shift. It’s not a corporate buyout from some giant conglomerate in Texas. It’s actually a 5th-generation Iowa family stepping in to keep the lights on and the doors open.
The Big Transition: What Actually Happened?
Let’s get the facts straight because there’s always a bit of grapevine chatter in Marengo. The Kloster family served this community faithfully starting back in 1994. That’s over 30 years of late-night calls, wake services, and graveside ceremonies in the Iowa wind. They built a reputation for being steady.
But in April 2025, a significant handoff occurred. Powell Funeral Homes officially acquired the Kloster locations in both Marengo and Brooklyn.
Here is the thing—the Powells aren't strangers to this area. They’ve been in the funeral business since 1911. Bowen and Katelin Yoder (Katelin was a Healey, for those keeping track of local families) are the ones currently managing the Marengo location. Bowen is actually the 5th generation of funeral directors in the Powell family.
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It’s kind of rare to see a family business make it to the fifth generation without getting swallowed up by a national chain. Usually, by the third or fourth generation, the kids want to move to a big city and do something else. The fact that they are expanding into Marengo actually says a lot about their commitment to rural Iowa.
Dealing With the "Old Name vs. New Name" Confusion
You’ll still see the name Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo IA on signs and in many online searches. That’s intentional. They aren't trying to erase the Kloster legacy overnight.
Currently, the business is often referred to as Powell Funeral Home - Marengo, but many locals still just call it "Kloster's." If you are searching for obituaries for neighbors like Janis Hinrichs or Sandra Brecht, you might find them listed under the Powell website now.
It's basically a "soft transition." The phone number—(319) 642-3600—is still the same. The location at 298 West Washington Street hasn’t moved. The building is still that familiar, comforting space it’s always been.
Why the Powell Family Took Over
- Deep Roots: The Powell legacy started way back when Lewis and Rachel Powell moved to Keota in the 50s.
- Multi-Generational Expertise: This isn't just a job for them; it's what they’ve done for over a century.
- Community Continuity: They already had locations in Williamsburg and North English, so Marengo was a natural fit.
What Most People Get Wrong About Modern Funerals
When people think about Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo IA, they usually think about the traditional "viewing and a church service" model. And while they still do that—and do it well—the industry has changed a lot.
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A lot of families are leaning toward cremation now. It used to be a small percentage of Iowans, but it’s becoming the norm for a lot of reasons—mostly cost and flexibility. The Powell family brought their experience with on-site crematories and modern memorial options to the table.
I’ve talked to folks who think that if you go to a "funeral home," you have to have a traditional casket. That’s just not true anymore. You can do a "Celebration of Life" at a park, or a small private gathering at the home, or even a service that incorporates more of the person's hobbies than their religious affiliations.
The staff at the Marengo location is pretty open about this: their job isn't to tell you how to grieve, it’s just to provide the infrastructure to do it.
The Practical Side: Planning Ahead
Nobody likes talking about their own death. It’s awkward. It’s morbid. Most of us would rather talk about the weather or the Iowa Hawkeyes' offensive line.
But, honestly, the biggest value that places like Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo IA provide isn't just the day of the funeral. It’s the pre-planning.
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I’ve seen families absolutely fall apart trying to decide what kind of flowers "Mom would have wanted" while they are in the middle of fresh grief. It’s a mess. Pre-planning basically takes the "guessing game" out of the equation for your kids. You can even lock in today's prices, which, given how inflation has been lately, is actually a pretty smart financial move.
What You Can Actually Do Right Now
- Check the Obituaries: If you are looking for a recent service, check the Powell Funeral Homes website. They have the most updated listings for Marengo and the surrounding towns like Ladora and Victor.
- Call with Questions: Don't wait for a tragedy to ask how much things cost. Bowen and the team are actually very approachable. They aren't going to "hard sell" you on a fancy casket.
- Update Your Records: If you had pre-arrangements with the Klosters before 2025, those records have been transferred to the new management. It’s a good idea to call and just make sure everything is where it should be.
Dealing with the Logistics of Grief
Living in a small town like Marengo, everyone knows everyone. When someone passes away, the funeral isn't just a family event—it's a community event. You see it at the grocery store, at the post office, and at the high school football games.
The transition of Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo IA to the Powell family is really about keeping that community spirit intact. It’s about having a local person answer the phone at 3 AM instead of an automated service in a call center.
Whether you call it Kloster's or Powell's, the reality is that the service remains a cornerstone of Iowa County. They handle the "heavy lifting"—the paperwork, the transport, the social security notifications—so that the families can just focus on being together.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently handling an estate or just thinking about the future, here is the best way to move forward:
- Request a General Price List (GPL): Every funeral home is required by law to give you this. It breaks down the cost of everything from the hearse to the basic services fee. It’s the best way to avoid "sticker shock."
- Visit the Facility: If you haven't been in since the transition in April 2025, stop by. Meet Bowen and Katelin. It makes a huge difference to have a face to the name before you actually need their services.
- Start the Conversation: Talk to your spouse or your kids. Just a simple, "Hey, if something happens, here is what I’m thinking," can save a massive amount of stress later on.
The name on the sign might look a little different these days, but the mission at the corner of Washington and Kentucky remains the same: taking care of neighbors when they need it most.