If you’ve lived in Manson, Iowa, or the surrounding Calhoun County area for more than a minute, you know the name Larson-Weishaar. It's basically a local institution. But lately, there’s been some confusion about how to find larson-weishaar funeral home obituaries or even who is running the place.
Honestly, things changed a bit back in July 2023. Dean Weishaar, who had been the face of the home since 1982, finally decided to hang up the hat and retire after 45 years in the business. He didn't just close the doors, though. He merged the operation with the Gunderson family out of Fort Dodge.
Why does this matter? Because if you’re looking for a recent obituary and you're just typing the old name into Google, you might feel like you’re hitting a dead end. The name is still on the building—that white brick colonial at 1408 11th Avenue—but the digital trail has shifted.
Where the Larson-Weishaar Funeral Home obituaries went
You used to go straight to a standalone site. Now, because of the merger, most of the new records are housed under the Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services portal. It’s a bit of a "new era, same heart" situation.
If you are looking for someone who passed recently, like in 2025 or early 2026, you’ll find them listed in the "Weishaar Chapel" section of the Gunderson site. People often think the records just vanished when Dean retired. They didn't. They just moved house.
Local families still see names they recognize, like Richard "Dick" Oberhelman or Pamela "Pam" Jean Goeders, appearing in the archives. The transition hasn't stopped the flow of local history; it just changed the URL.
A quick history of the Manson landmark
This place has survived more than just a change in ownership. It’s literally been through fire.
In January 2002, a massive fire destroyed the original funeral home and the Weishaar family’s residence. It was a total loss. But Manson is a "show up and help" kind of town. Phil Gunderson actually let Dean use his facilities in Fort Dodge while the new place was being built. That's why the current building looks so modern—it only opened in 2003.
The roots go back even further, though:
- Established before 1916 by W.D. Long.
- S.R. Williams took over in 1916.
- Moved to the historic Kaskey house in 1936.
- Don Larson bought it in 1951 (that's where the "Larson" comes from).
- Dean Weishaar took the reins in 1982.
Finding old records: It’s kinda tricky
If you’re doing genealogy or looking for an aunt who passed away in the 90s, the digital search gets a little messy. Since the 2002 fire destroyed physical files, and the internet wasn't exactly what it is now back in the 80s, you won't find every single Larson-Weishaar obituary online.
Your best bet for the "deep cuts" of Manson history isn't just a Google search. You've gotta look at the Manson Journal archives or the Calhoun County Museum. Digital archives like Tribute Archive or Legacy.com have a decent chunk of records from the last 15-20 years, but for the really old stuff, you’re looking at microfilm.
The Gunderson connection
Rob Gunderson is the guy running the show now. He lives in the area with his wife Kelcie and their kids. It’s still a family-run vibe, which is what Dean wanted. He didn't want to sell to some giant corporate conglomerate that wouldn't know a Manson Meridian from a hole in the ground.
When you look up larson-weishaar funeral home obituaries today, you’re basically looking at the Gunderson database. They’ve kept the Manson identity intact, which is rare these days.
The practical side of things
If you need to find a specific obituary right now, don't just search the name. Search for "Gunderson Funeral Home Manson IA obituaries." It'll save you about three clicks and a headache.
The services offered haven't changed much either. They still do the traditional stuff, but they’ve added more robust cremation options and online planning tools. If you’re trying to send flowers for a service at the Weishaar Chapel, most of those "Send Flowers" links on the obituary pages go to local florists who know exactly where 1408 11th Ave is.
Actionable steps for your search
- Check the Weishaar Chapel filter: On the Gunderson website, use the location filter for "Manson" or "Weishaar Chapel" to narrow down the list.
- Use Tribute Archive: If the main site is being glitchy, Tribute Archive often mirrors the Larson-Weishaar records accurately.
- Call them: Honestly, they’re still small-town friendly. If you can’t find a service time, just call 712-469-3315.
- Local Library: For anything pre-2000, the Manson Public Library is your gold mine. They have the local papers that carried the full, long-form obits that the internet sometimes clips.
The legacy of the Larson and Weishaar names is basically baked into the soil of Manson. While the business side of things has modernized, the way they record the lives of the people there remains the same: steady, respectful, and very Iowa.
If you are looking for a specific person, start with the Gunderson "Weishaar Chapel" listings. If they aren't there, head to the library archives for the Manson Journal. That's the most reliable way to piece together the history of those who called this corner of Calhoun County home.