Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

GOETTSCH, INC.
i3 4"a_
' Q.
'
I" _ _ g
' -I '1. l. -_' T‘
I
1
-1--—
Shortly after it was built in 1917
Tl“ F""°'°' "'°"‘° '°d°Y
The roots of funeral customs and procedures extend back through Western
civilizations to beliefs concerning the nature of God, Man and the hereafter. The
history of Anamosa dates back to when the care of the dead was undertaken by
friends and neighbors. Later, because a more desirable container was often needed,
the services of a cabinet maker was called in to assist. What followed was the
sale of caskets in a furniture store and later in a funeral parlor or what today is
known as a funeral home.
The building that Goettsch Funeral Home occupies was originally built as a
Masonic Library and printing office in I917 by the late George Schoonover. In the
late I920's Thomas Loder converted the building into a funeral home and since
then it has been in continuous operation in that capacity. Later the funeral home
was owned and operated by John Clinton Bride. In I935 the business was sold to
Emil Smykil who operated it until I947. At that time Verne and Cecil Goettsch purchased
the business renaming it Goettsch Funeral Home. In I966 the building was
remodeled adding additional rooms for visitation and arrangement offices.
Through the years the Goettsch Funeral Homes have carried out the funeral
beliefs, customs, and practices of Jones County and surrounding territory and continue
to do so with the present owners, John Kloster and Kevin Smith.
Congratulations
Mm A- Kl»-or Anamosa for 150 yea rs rm» o. Smith
Donald R- H°°5fY
Edward T. Redmond
408