KAISER CORSON FUNERAL HOMES - Key Persons
Born in Waverly, Iowa, and a graduate of the Waverly-Shell Rock High School. I joined the firm in 1980, working alongside my father (Jim) and two brothers (Cal & Steve). I have been married to my wife Barb (Westendorf) since 1990 and we live in Waverly. We have two girls, Kim and Carolyn.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner
- Funeral Director
Darren has been with Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes since February of 2000. He became co-owner of the funeral homes in 2019. He grew up in Cresco, Iowa and graduated from Crestwood High School in 1990. He attended Waldorf College in Forest City, graduating with an Associate of Arts Degree in Mortuary Science in 1992. Darren graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois in the fall of 1993. Prior to joining Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, Darren worked in the communities of Waterloo and Osage.
Darren and his wife, Becky along with their family reside at the Readlyn location. They are the proud parents of Cameron, Colin, Casey and Claire. Darren and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waverly.
Dean is native of Breda, Iowa and has been with Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home since July of 2001. He is a licensed funeral director and holds an insurance license to sell pre-need. Dean is a graduated of Carroll Kuemper High School, Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Skokie, Illinois. Prior to joining Kaiser-Corson he was employed at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake and Barker Mortuary in Holstein.
Along with his wife, Sheila, they reside in Waverly. They have three children, Lindsay (Tommy), Blake (Rachel) and Stefanie (Johnny) and four grandchildren, Jax, Addison, Josiah and Knox. He is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, which he served as President from 2010-2011, member of the National Funeral Directors Association and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waverly. Dean is an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, enjoys playing golf, bike riding, walking with his dog, Herky along with spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner
- Funeral Director
Denee graduated from Monroe High School and the Des Moines Area Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program. She worked as a registered nurse prior to graduating from the Des Moines Area Community College Mortuary Science Program in 2011. She started her internship in November of 2011 and assumed a funeral director position after receiving her funeral directors' license in 2012, both at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes. She became co-owner of the funeral homes in 2019.
Denee has two daughters and lives in Waverly with her youngest daughter, Melanie. Her oldest daughter, Kali, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a member of Heritage United Methodist Church and the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.
The south end of the chapel that is used for both visitations and funeral home services. It can accommodate up to 80 people for a service.
The north end of the chapel that can be used for a second visitation if needed, or in combination with the south end for a large visitation area.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner
- Funeral Director
Jon has been with Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home since 2007. Jon was raised in Fayette, Iowa and graduated from the North Fayette High School, West Union, Iowa, 1989 and from Worsham Mortuary College in Wheeling, Illinois in 1999. Jon served his apprenticeship with the Harden Funeral Home in What Cheer and continued to funeral direct there until 2007. He became co-owner of the funeral homes in 2019.
Jon resides at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock along with his wife Jodi who works for Cuna Mutual Insurance in Waverly. The couple attends Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls and have four children; Tyler, Tiffany, Mason, and Cooper. In his spare time you can find Jon with his boys canoeing, fishing, and hunting.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner
- Funeral Director
Ryan was born and raised in Sumner, Iowa. He is an honors graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. Upon completing his funeral service internship in Fort Dodge, he joined Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes as a licensed Funeral Director in 2007. He became a co-owner of the funeral homes in 2019.
Ryan is a Past President of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association. He served for three years on the Policy Board for the National Funeral Directors Association and has earned the credential of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
In the community, Ryan is past Chair for the Bremer County Community Foundation, is a member of the Denver Lions Club and coaches baseball for the Denver Baseball Club. In 2019, he was named to "The Courier's 20 under 40" which honors outstanding young leaders in the Cedar Valley who are making a difference in their work and personal lives to make the area a better place.
Ryan is married to his wife, Kayla. They have two sons, Colby and Griffin, and live in Denver. He enjoys reading, cooking, playing golf, traveling, being outdoors and attending sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Member of St. Paul 's Lutheran Church
- Retired Funeral Director
A third-generation funeral director, born in Waverly, Iowa, graduated from the Waverly-Shell Rock High School, and received his B.A. in Physical Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1979. In December of 1980, Steve began working at the funeral home as a funeral attendant, with his father, Jim Corson and brothers, Cal and Carter. In 1982, Steve graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and returned home to serve his apprenticeship at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, with his father. He retired on September 1, 2019.
Steve is a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly, a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, and National Funeral Directors Association. Steve enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and his time spent outdoors doing yard work or on the golf course.
Steve married Waverly native, Jo (Kosbau) on November 27, 1982, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly. They have one son, Christopher Corson; and two grandchildren; Tristan and Brileigh who all live in Waverly.
We have three large visitation areas: Corson Chapel, Dawson Chapel and the Kaiser Chapel. We can open a wall up to make a larger sitting area (as seen here) and still have the Kaiser Chapel for another visitation. We can also open all three chapels for seating of up to 300.
Named in honor and memory of our founder, George J. Kaiser, this chapel, like the other two, can accommodate 80 people.