Meierhoffer celebrates 130 years

By Ashley Luthans

A local family-owned business has reached a milestone on Aug. 1, celebrating its 130-year anniversary.

Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory was originally established in 1894 by Reinhold Meierhoffer. The business has gone through five generations of Meierhoffers and is now run by brothers, Scott and Todd Meierhoffer.

Todd Meierhoffer explained more about the background of the family business.

“Our family represents five generations in funeral service here in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri,” Meierhoffer said. “My great-great-great-grandfather started this business in 1894. In fact, (on) the first day of August, which represents the Swiss independence day, which our family immigrated from.”

Meierhoffer went on to explain the importance of the family’s Swiss heritage in the business.

“People may notice the month of August, there is a flag that flies in place of our company flag and it is actually the Swiss flag representing our heritage that was so important to our founders of our company, that they found it important to start their business on that day,” Meierhoffer said.

Meierhoffer said he is proud to be a part of the family business and has high hopes for the future of the business.

“We’re very fortunate from the fact that both my brother and myself decided to come back and join our father and have the opportunity to work in a family business is extremely rewarding,” Meierhoffer said. “So, 130 years and our plan is to continue. Both my brother and I have young children and we’ll see what the future holds.”