In 1905, J.W. Poland purchased Cameron Undertaking and Furniture from A.H. Pettijohn, changing the name to Poland Undertaking and Furniture. In 1919, after World War I, J.W.’s son, J. Foster Poland, joined the firm. J. Foster assumed active management in 1941. In 1949, J.W.'s grandson, Robert F. Poland, a third-generation funeral director, became part of the company, and a joint partnership was formed in 1951. In 1957, Laurence James Thompson joined the organization.

In 1960, J. Foster Poland retired.  "Bob" Poland and "Jim" Thompson then became partners. In 1966, the firm became known as Poland-Thompson Funeral Home, as it’s called today.

In 1968, Robert Poland passed away.  At that point, Jim Thompson and his wife Peggy became the sole owners of the company. In 1979, their oldest son Kent became active in the family business. Their second son, Kurt, joined the firm in 1984. After the deaths of Jim and Peggy Thompson, the sons became co-owners of the firm. Kurt is the current General Manager.

In 1983, the funeral home was expanded, adding Poland-Thompson Chapel, which offers seating for more than 150 people. In 2001, a courtyard was added to the funeral home.  This addition allows friends and families to gather before and after services, and also makes the funeral home more handicap-accessible.

A brief introduction to the courteous, professional staff of Poland-Thompson Funeral Home:

Kurt J. Thompson  Kurt is the current General Manager, and has been serving the community as a licensed funeral director for over 21 years. Kurt is deeply involved in numerous community organizations.

Kent A. Thompson  Kent is a licensed funeral director, serving the community for over 26 years. Kent is also involved in farming with his son, Brian.

David L. Sisk II   David is a licensed funeral director, serving the community since 1991. David enjoys fishing, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

Debra Rosann Thompson  Rosann became a licensed funeral director in 2002. She has been a part of the funeral home for over 20 years. Rosann is also a school teacher and enjoys regular walks in the outdoors.

Betty S. Jones  Betty has been with the funeral home since 1992, assisting with all office activities, including  bookkeeping, payroll, and assisting directly with families. Betty started a grief support group for local widows. She is treasurer of her church, enjoys traveling, and working on her farm.

H. Clay Korneman  Clay has been with the funeral home since 1999. Besides working full-time, Clay works on the family farm and at Sloan Monument Works.  He also sits on the Board of a rural cemetery service.

Karen A. Thompson  Karen has worked with the funeral home since 1985, and is the manager of Sloan Monument Works. Karen enjoys going to the lake, barbequing, and traveling.

Kelly A. Kellerstrass  Kelly has been with the funeral home since 2000. She assists in the office with bookkeeping responsibilities, and also works directly with the families we serve. Kelly enjoys scrap booking, photography and golf.

Brian K. Thompson  Brian has been with the funeral home since 1999. He attended Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri. Brian, along with his Dad, manages the family farm. He also enjoys working on cars.

Craig D. Leach  Craig has been with the funeral home since 2004. Craig is attending Kansas City, Kansas Community College, majoring in Mortuary Science. He enjoys both music and sports.

All our employees are qualified to provide information about any services you or your family may need.