Our Staff

Mark Laufersweiler, 5th generation owner and funeral director is a 1992 graduate of Saint Edmond High School. He attended Iowa Central Community College and is a graduate of Worsham Mortuary School in Chicago, Illinois.

Mark is a member of Young Professionals, Knights of Columbus Council 613, Holy Trinity Parish, and Noon Sertoma. He is a board member of Webster County Crime Stoppers. He also is an avid sports fan, especially the Hawkeyes. Mark’s greatest enjoyment is his family, his wife, Susan, and their children, JT, Griffin, and Josie.

Luke Laufersweiler, 5th generation owner and funeral director, is a 1994 graduate of Saint Edmond High School, a 1997 graduate of Iowa Central Community College, and a 1998 graduate of the Kansas City Mortuary Science Program.

Luke is a board member of Rotary, Knights of Columbus Council 613, and Holy Trinity Parish. Luke’s greatest joy comes from his family; his wife, Abbie, sons Maxx, Ezra, and Kash, and their three dogs.

Susan McDonald, funeral director, is a 2007 graduate of Saint Edmond High School, a 2010 graduate of Des Moines Area Community College Mortuary Science Program, and a 2011 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies, and biology emphasis. She started at the funeral home mowing the lawn and washing cars in 2006 and has been a licensed funeral director since 2010. Susan enjoys volunteering with the Webster County Horse 4-H Project. With her husband Nick, the couple raise and train horses. They share their passion with the community and together they have two children AJ and TW.

Emily Dencklau, Funeral Director, is a 1999 Saint Edmond High School graduate and a graduate of the Mortuary Science program through Des Moines Area Community College. Emily is active in her church and community, including being a Fort Dodge Community School District school board member, volunteering her time as a lector at Holy Trinity Church, coaching FDSA soccer in the spring and fall, and helping with Webster County 4H. She is also devoted to working in the special needs community with her daughter, Aubreigh. Emily and her husband Ben are always on the go and stay busy with activities for their shared 9 children Haley, Tessa, Gavin, Maxwell, Kaleb, Aubreigh, Tuck, Maddux, and Cora.

Brie Moore, office manager, is a 2010 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School and a 2017 graduate of Buena Vista University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Management, and Human Resources. Brie enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon, and 2 children, Emerli and Braxley, as well as participating in craft shows with her own business. She is very active with her daughter in competitive All-Star Cheer and her son in Soccer. 

Becky Antrim, Certified Crematory Operator/Funeral Director Assistant, has been with the funeral home since 2020. She has four adult children and a grandson, Henry. Becky enjoys listening to music and watching movies and spending time with her family.

Anna Lewandowski, funeral director assistant, has been employed at Laufersweilers since 2018. She also works for Webster County Animal Control and is the Webster County 4-H poultry project superintendent. She graduated from Iowa Central in 2021 with her associates degree, and she enjoys crocheting, judging pigeons at pigeon shows, as well as spending time with her partner Seth and their cats.

Certified Crematory Operator/Funeral Director Assistant, has been with the funeral home since 2020. She has 3 children Landon, Laina, and Lily. Kaylee enjoys spending time with her family. She is also taking classes through Iowa Central and is also a local licensed real estate broker.

Shawn is our Pre-Need consultant, working with us for over 20 years. She represents Pre-Need Systems and Homesteaders Life Company. She provides prearranged funeral services for our families. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Shawn and her husband Tim's favorite role is being grandparents to Avery, Tate, and Bo.

Dave has been a licensed funeral director since 1989 and has been associated with Laufersweiler Funeral Home since 1994.  Dave graduated from Audubon High School, with the Class of 1985, and from Iowa Western Community College.  In 1988, he graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago.  Following his education, Dave did his apprenticeship for the O’Neill family at Beem-Belford Funeral Home in Council Bluffs. In 1995, Dave purchased part ownership of Laufersweiler Funeral Home, Fort Dodge, which owned funeral homes in Rockwell City and Gowrie.  In 1998, he moved to Rockwell City where he operated Palmer & Swank Funeral Homes.  Dave and his wife Brenda (Yetmar), a retired 40-year career nurse at Trinity Regional Medical Center, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Dave is an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Rockwell City.  He served on the Chamber and Development Board, Sunnyview Independent Living Board past President, former Union State Bank Board, and the Rockwell City Library Foundation Board.

Ned Palmer, Funeral Director, is a 1972 graduate of Prairie Community High School, Gowrie, and a 1978 graduate of Cincinnati Mortuary School. Ned and his wife Colleen are active Gowrie community members. They have two children Jill and Lee White and Scott Palmer. He enjoys spending time with his family and attending his granddaughters, Bridget and Madi's sporting events, and is also an avid golfer. Ned loves being the annual Gowrie Parade announcer.

Joseph M. Laufersweiler, 65, of Fort Dodge passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018, after a sudden illness in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Joseph Michael Laufersweiler was born August 26, 1952, to Welch and Dorothy (Fortune) Laufersweiler in Fort Dodge. He attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Saint Edmond High School in 1970. Joe first attended Iowa Central Community College and later received his degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota. In 1979, Joe purchased the funeral home from his father and became the fourth generation Laufersweiler to own and operate Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in partnership with Harlow Sievers.

On February 25, 1989, Joe was united in marriage to Carol Fisher at Sacred Heart Church. In 1991, their daughter, Sarah was born. She was Joe's pride and joy.

Joe never forgot a name. Every hand he shook or hug he gave was genuine. He was a pillar in his industry and a pillar in the Fort Dodge community. He was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, Morning Daybreak Rotary, Moose Lodge #806, and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was also a past board member of the Marian Home and the Red Cross.

He loved fishing together with his wife Carol. He would spend hours polishing his boat for fishing trips with Carol and his close buddies. Joe the funeral director, fisherman, friend, father, and Joe the husband will be deeply missed.

Joe is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Sarah of Milwaukee, WI; siblings, Ann (James) Tornabane of Urbandale; Thomas (Terri); John; Sue Laufersweiler all of Fort Dodge; Jean Fortune of Mankato, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark, at the age of 17.