Our Funeral Home
Greenwood Funeral Home History
Greenwood Funeral Home, of Cherokee, Iowa, was built in the late 1870s by Homer Walrath. This home was later purchased by Frank Stanoshek and his family who made this a home to be remembered as they lived there for many years.
In the 1930s this home was purchased by W.H. Schmidt and it became Schmidt Funeral Home. This home stayed in the Schmidt family until 1953 when the business was purchased by Frank Greenwood and Don Whitlach. This was Greenwood & Whitlach Funeral Home until 1955 when Don Whitlach moved and the business became Greenwood Funeral Home. For years this business featured a large trade call business from the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. This business is one of the few remaining with an iron fence around the yard. The fence is in good repair, which is now a rarity.
This business was completely remodeled in 1965 and a large chapel and casket room were added. The preparation room was also remodeled and moved to the first floor. In 1976, following the death of Frank Greenwood, his son Tim Greenwood moved back to Cherokee and has operated and owned the business since then.
This home features a very large upstairs apartment that has held precious few families for 55 years. First, the Wheeler family for 30+ years, the Filmore Nelson family for 18 years, and the Ben and Emily Shuberg family for 5 years. Many of the unique features in this 130 year old building have been transferred to the new addition, including oak door headers and leaded, cut glass windows.
Greenwood Funeral Home Staff
Greenwood Funeral Home, of Cherokee, Iowa, was built in the late 1870s by Homer Walrath. This home was later purchased by Frank Stanoshek and his family who made this a home to be remembered as they lived there for many years. In the 1930s this home was purchased by W.H. Schmidt and it became Schmidt Funeral Home. This home stayed in the Schmidt family until 1953 when the business was purchased by Frank Greenwood and Don Whitlach. This was Greenwood & Whitlach Funeral Home until 1955 when Don Whitlach moved and the business became Greenwood Funeral Home. For years this business featured a large trade call business from the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. This business is one of the few remaining with an iron fence around the yard. The fence is in good repair, which is now a rarity.
This business was completely remodeled in 1965 and a large chapel and casket room were added. The preparation room was also remodeled and moved to the first floor. In 1976, following the death of Frank Greenwood, his son Tim Greenwood moved back to Cherokee and has operated and owned the business since then.
This home features a very large upstairs apartment that has held precious few families for 55 years. First, the Wheeler family for 30+ years, the Filmore Nelson family for 18 years, and the Ben and Emily Shuberg family for 5 years. Many of the unique features in this 130 year old building have been transferred to the new addition, including oak door headers and leaded, cut glass windows.
Greenwood Funeral Home Staff
Matt and Julie Schubert
Matt was raised in Cherokee, Iowa, graduating from Washington High School in 1997. He attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska from 1997-1999. He then attended and graduated from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. He previously worked for Warner Funeral Home in Spencer, IA for the last seven years. Matt is excited to move back to his hometown and looks forward to becoming an active member in various organizations in the Cherokee community. He and his wife Julie are members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Matt enjoys pheasant hunting, golf, and watching football, but most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife Julie and two girls, Lauren and Addison.
Julie grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating from East High School in 1994. She attended University of South Dakota, where she received her Masters of Speech Language Pathology. Julie previously worked at the Spencer Hospital for the last 10 years. She looks forward to helping at Greenwood Funeral Home. She currently works two days a week for Prairie Lakes AEA serving the Storm Lake Elementary School. Julie enjoys golf, reading, baking cookies, volunteering at her child’s preschool, and spending time with her family.
Matt was raised in Cherokee, Iowa, graduating from Washington High School in 1997. He attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska from 1997-1999. He then attended and graduated from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. He previously worked for Warner Funeral Home in Spencer, IA for the last seven years. Matt is excited to move back to his hometown and looks forward to becoming an active member in various organizations in the Cherokee community. He and his wife Julie are members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Matt enjoys pheasant hunting, golf, and watching football, but most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife Julie and two girls, Lauren and Addison. Julie grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating from East High School in 1994. She attended University of South Dakota, where she received her Masters of Speech Language Pathology. Julie previously worked at the Spencer Hospital for the last 10 years. She looks forward to helping at Greenwood Funeral Home. She currently works two days a week for Prairie Lakes AEA serving the Storm Lake Elementary School. Julie enjoys golf, reading, baking cookies, volunteering at her child’s preschool, and spending time with her family.
Tim Greenwood
Tim is a lifetime resident of Cherokee, Iowa, graduating from Washington High School in 1971. He attended Northwest Missouri State University from 1971 - 1974. He is a Fall 1975 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Following the death of his father, Frank, in 1976, Tim returned to Cherokee, Iowa, to operate the family business. Tim has been a member of NFDA/IFDA since 1976. He enjoys many outdoor activities and is involved with many civic organizations including Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Rotary Club and Pheasants Forever, to name a few. Tim and Patty have three children: Sara, John, and Patrick.
Tim is a lifetime resident of Cherokee, Iowa, graduating from Washington High School in 1971. He attended Northwest Missouri State University from 1971 - 1974. He is a Fall 1975 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Following the death of his father, Frank, in 1976, Tim returned to Cherokee, Iowa, to operate the family business. Tim has been a member of NFDA/IFDA since 1976. He enjoys many outdoor activities and is involved with many civic organizations including Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Rotary Club and Pheasants Forever, to name a few. Tim and Patty have three children: Sara, John, and Patrick.Andrea Orthmann
Andrea and her husband, Joel, were raised in Sutherland, Iowa. Andrea attended Iowa Lakes Community College where she studied nursing and worked in the nursing field for 25 years. She later felt a call towards a career in funeral service, and in 2005, graduated from Arapahoe Community College of Mortuary Science in Littleton, CO. Along with her internship, she served from 2006-2012 as a licensed funeral director/embalmer at the Sanborn and Hartley, Iowa funeral homes.
Andrea serves in both our Cherokee and Marcus locations. She and Joel have made Marcus their home, and look forward to getting acquainted and involved in the community. They are active members of Oakdale Evangelical Free Church in rural Meriden. Their family includes four grown children and four grandchildren. Together, they enjoy all things musical.
Andrea and her husband, Joel, were raised in Sutherland, Iowa. Andrea attended Iowa Lakes Community College where she studied nursing and worked in the nursing field for 25 years. She later felt a call towards a career in funeral service, and in 2005, graduated from Arapahoe Community College of Mortuary Science in Littleton, CO. Along with her internship, she served from 2006-2012 as a licensed funeral director/embalmer at the Sanborn and Hartley, Iowa funeral homes.Andrea serves in both our Cherokee and Marcus locations. She and Joel have made Marcus their home, and look forward to getting acquainted and involved in the community. They are active members of Oakdale Evangelical Free Church in rural Meriden. Their family includes four grown children and four grandchildren. Together, they enjoy all things musical.
Herb Ford
LeRoy "Herb" Ford has been an important part of Greenwood Funeral Home for over 20 years. Herb is a retired railroad man with a great gift of helping others in the community of Cherokee. He is active with the Food Pantry, Mobile Meals, Knights of Columbus, and was named Cherokee's "Citizen of the Year" in 2003.
LeRoy "Herb" Ford has been an important part of Greenwood Funeral Home for over 20 years. Herb is a retired railroad man with a great gift of helping others in the community of Cherokee. He is active with the Food Pantry, Mobile Meals, Knights of Columbus, and was named Cherokee's "Citizen of the Year" in 2003.Douglas Jansen
Doug was raised in the Anthon, IA area. He joined the Iowa National Guard and served for 25 years. Doug and his wife, Sue reside in McCook Lake, SD. He is the father-in-law of Matt Schubert. He is active in the American Legion, Holy Cross Lutheran Church and his grandchildren’s many activities. Doug looks forward to assisting with funerals and visitations at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Doug was raised in the Anthon, IA area. He joined the Iowa National Guard and served for 25 years. Doug and his wife, Sue reside in McCook Lake, SD. He is the father-in-law of Matt Schubert. He is active in the American Legion, Holy Cross Lutheran Church and his grandchildren’s many activities. Doug looks forward to assisting with funerals and visitations at Greenwood Funeral Home.Cheryl Winklepleck
Cheryl Winklepleck is the mother of Matt Schubert. She was raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from O’Gorman High School. She looks forward to helping out with visitations and other jobs when needed. Cheryl enjoys cooking, gardening, and most of all she loves spoiling her five grandchildren.
Cheryl Winklepleck is the mother of Matt Schubert. She was raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from O’Gorman High School. She looks forward to helping out with visitations and other jobs when needed. Cheryl enjoys cooking, gardening, and most of all she loves spoiling her five grandchildren.
Greenwood Funeral Home is an independent family owned funeral home dedicated to providing dignified care for the residents of Cherokee county since 1953.