Douglas and Karen Carlsen
Doug Carlsen is a native of Milbank, South Dakota and
graduated from Milbank High School.
Following graduation from high school he attended South Dakota State
University studying Pre-Mortuary Science.
He attended and graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science
in Dallas, Texas. In 1987, Doug
returned to the Midwest and worked for a funeral home in Yankton, South Dakota
for a number of years. In the summer of
1992, Doug moved to Le Mars to manage a local funeral home. In May of 2001, Doug and Karen established
the Carlsen Funeral Home of Le Mars with construction being completed in
January of 2002. In September of 2004,
Doug and Karen along with Dan and Lori Rexwinkel purchased the Schroeder
Funeral Home of Akron, Iowa and renamed the business Carlsen Funeral Home-
Schroeder Chapel in honor of Ron and Karen Schroeder's 40 plus years of service
the residents of Western Plymouth County, Iowa. Doug is a licensed funeral director in Iowa and South
Dakota. Doug is a member of Grace
Lutheran Church where he is an Elder and has served as a trustee. He is a longtime member of the Le Mars Fire
Department, Floyd Masonic Lodge and Eagles Club in Le Mars. He is also a member
of the Le Mars Kiwanis Club and the Lions Club. Doug is also a member of the Iowa Funeral Director's Association
where he currently serves as District #7 Governor. He is also a
member of the National Funeral Director's Association.
Doug and Karen are the parents of Krystle, Rachel, and
Dylan.
Karen Carlsen is a native of Akron, Iowa, and a graduate of
Akron Community High School. After graduation she moved to Le Mars and began a
22-½ year career at Wells' Blue Bunny working in several different departments
at the corporate office. Karen and Doug were married in August of 1997. She now works full time at the funeral home.
She is very active at Grace Lutheran church in Le Mars, where she is Rebekah
circle president, member of the board of education and vacation bible school
helper. She is the new chairman of the Northwest Iowa Community Credit Union
board and the extension officer of the Iota Chi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.
Dan and Lori Rexwinkel
Dan Rexwinkel is a native of Le Mars, Iowa, and a graduate
of Le Mars Community High School. He
attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska were he received his Bachelors
Degree in Mortuary Science. He later
attended Kansas City Kansas Community College where he received his Associates
Degree in Funeral Service. Following
his education, he worked for Meyer Brothers Funeral Homes in Sioux City for
five years before partnering with Doug and Karen Carlsen in September of
2004. Dan is licensed in Iowa,
Nebraska, and South Dakota. He and his
wife Lori are members of Trinity Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron, active
members of the Akron Area Chamber of Commerce, Akron Country Club, Akron Lion's
Club, and the Le Mars Eagle's Club. Dan
also serves as the secretary/treasurer of the Riverside Cemetery in Akron. Dan is also a member of the Iowa Funeral
Director's Association and National Funeral Director's Association. Dan and his wife are proud parents of a
daughter, Lauren.
Lori is a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she graduated
from Fort Dodge High School in 1995.
She attended college at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux
City where she received her degree in Dental Assisting. She worked for dental offices in Fort Dodge
and most recently for Dr. Donna Gardner in Sioux City. She now works full time at the funeral
home. Lori is actively involved
in fundraisers for the Akron Children's Center.
Support Staff
Ron Schroeder Karen
Schroeder Lowell Klemme Stan Rolfes Gene Orban Velma
Knudsen
