Rieken Duhn Funeral Home
Oakland, IA
Rieken Duhn History
Our Founder
The history and roots of the Duhn Funeral Home date back to 1907 in Davis County, Iowa, when Clarence E. Wagler started a funeral home in Pulaski, Iowa. In 1916, his younger brother, Silvenus Clyde Wagler, joined him in his business. As that business expanded, S.C. took charge of the original business, and C.E. moved to Milton, Iowa. In 1921, S.C. moved to Milton, and C.E. moved to Bloomfield, where a Wagler Funeral Home still exists today
In 1928, the partnership of C.E. and S.C. was dissolved, and S.C. went west to settle in Elliott, Iowa. There, he became associated with the Edward Hully Furniture and Undertaking Business. S.C. Wagler later expanded this business to the Griswold area, just as C.E. Wagler expanded around Davis County. On June 14, 1930, the grand opening of the Wagler Funeral Home in Griswold was held in its present location.
Our Beginnings
In 1938, Dwight Wagler, S.C. Wagler’s son, went to mortuary school in St. Louis after attending Iowa State and Simpson College. There he met Mary Starr, whom he married and then he joined his father in the funeral service.
In 1939, the facilities were expanded with the addition of a large casket selection room in the back of the building. Minor changes included changes in the entrance and moving the preparation room to the basement level.
In 1953, S.C. and his wife, Helen, moved from the funeral home. At this time, the living quarters of the funeral home were expanded by the addition of a living room on the south side of the second story. Dwight and his family moved into the funeral home.
Recent History
In 1968, Dwight Wagler invested in a corporation with Carl Vieth and Alan Vieth of Oakland to begin the Wagler-Vieth Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa. In 1970, the corporation hired Allan Duhn, a funeral director and former mortuary schoolmate of Alan Vieth, to operate the corporation’s funeral home in Atlantic. That corporation expanded to Anita, and Allan and his wife, Judy, and their daughter Melissa moved to Anita in 1972.
In 1973, Allan and Judy purchased the Wagler Funeral Home in Griswold from Dwight and his wife, Mary. In 1974, they moved into the funeral home at Griswold. Their daughter Jennifer was born after they moved to Griswold. Investments in the corporation were sold in 1977. Dwight died in 1979.
Allan served as president of the Iowa Funeral Directors during 1978- 1979. He was also president of Funeral Services of Iowa for several years and served as chairman of the Legislative Committee for IFDA. He continues to be a member of the Legislative committee. Allan is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association.
In 1994, Allan and Judy Duhn incorporated the business and officially changed the name from Wagler to Duhn Funeral Home. After their daughter Jennifer started kindergarten, Judy went back to teaching school in 1980 and taught English and reading until her retirement in 2006, at which time she became more involved with the funeral home.
Throughout the years, many improvements have been made to the funeral home. The preparation room was remodeled to make it state-of-the-art. An old garage was replaced with a new attached garage. Bathrooms and the west entrance of the funeral home were made fully handicapped accessible. The basement level was remodeled to allow overflow, seating an additional 80 people. Closed-circuit television was added for overflow areas. As recently as 2000, the chapel, family room, and front entrance were completely remodeled and refurbished.
Current History
Allan Duhn and his wife Judy continued to assist families in the Griswold area with compassion and professionalism, fully understanding the difficult and life-changing decisions that must be made.
In 2010, Marty Rieken began serving families as a licensed funeral director at Duhn Funeral Home in Oakland, Iowa — stepping into a role rooted in trust, compassion, and community. Just two years later, in October 2012, Marty and his wife, Kristy, embraced the opportunity to carry that legacy forward by purchasing the funeral home from Allan and Judy Duhn. On January 1, 2017, the name officially became Rieken Duhn Funeral Home — reflecting both its heritage and its future. Marty, Kristy and the Rieken Funeral Home staff are deeply committed to serving the families of Griswold and the surrounding communities with genuine care, compassion, and steady guidance during life’s most difficult moments.
The history and roots of the Duhn Funeral Home date back to 1907 in Davis County, Iowa, when Clarence E. Wagler started a funeral home in Pulaski, Iowa. In 1916, his younger brother, Silvenus Clyde Wagler, joined him in his business. As that business expanded, S.C. took charge of the original business, and C.E. moved to Milton, Iowa. In 1921, S.C. moved to Milton, and C.E. moved to Bloomfield, where a Wagler Funeral Home still exists today
In 1928, the partnership of C.E. and S.C. was dissolved, and S.C. went west to settle in Elliott, Iowa. There, he became associated with the Edward Hully Furniture and Undertaking Business. S.C. Wagler later expanded this business to the Griswold area, just as C.E. Wagler expanded around Davis County. On June 14, 1930, the grand opening of the Wagler Funeral Home in Griswold was held in its present location.
Rieken Duhn History
Our Founder
Our Beginnings
In 1938, Dwight Wagler, S.C. Wagler’s son, went to mortuary school in St. Louis after attending Iowa State and Simpson College. There he met Mary Starr, whom he married and then he joined his father in the funeral service.
In 1939, the facilities were expanded with the addition of a large casket selection room in the back of the building. Minor changes included changes in the entrance and moving the preparation room to the basement level.
In 1953, S.C. and his wife, Helen, moved from the funeral home. At this time, the living quarters of the funeral home were expanded by the addition of a living room on the south side of the second story. Dwight and his family moved into the funeral home.
Recent History
In 1968, Dwight Wagler invested in a corporation with Carl Vieth and Alan Vieth of Oakland to begin the Wagler-Vieth Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa. In 1970, the corporation hired Allan Duhn, a funeral director and former mortuary schoolmate of Alan Vieth, to operate the corporation’s funeral home in Atlantic. That corporation expanded to Anita, and Allan and his wife, Judy, and their daughter Melissa moved to Anita in 1972.
In 1973, Allan and Judy purchased the Wagler Funeral Home in Griswold from Dwight and his wife, Mary. In 1974, they moved into the funeral home at Griswold. Their daughter Jennifer was born after they moved to Griswold. Investments in the corporation were sold in 1977. Dwight died in 1979.
Allan served as president of the Iowa Funeral Directors during 1978- 1979. He was also president of Funeral Services of Iowa for several years and served as chairman of the Legislative Committee for IFDA. He continues to be a member of the Legislative committee. Allan is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association.
In 1994, Allan and Judy Duhn incorporated the business and officially changed the name from Wagler to Duhn Funeral Home. After their daughter Jennifer started kindergarten, Judy went back to teaching school in 1980 and taught English and reading until her retirement in 2006, at which time she became more involved with the funeral home.
Throughout the years, many improvements have been made to the funeral home. The preparation room was remodeled to make it state-of-the-art. An old garage was replaced with a new attached garage. Bathrooms and the west entrance of the funeral home were made fully handicapped accessible. The basement level was remodeled to allow overflow, seating an additional 80 people. Closed-circuit television was added for overflow areas. As recently as 2000, the chapel, family room, and front entrance were completely remodeled and refurbished.
Current History
Allan Duhn and his wife Judy continued to assist families in the Griswold area with compassion and professionalism, fully understanding the difficult and life-changing decisions that must be made.
In 2010, Marty Rieken of the Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland, Iowa, began assisting as a licensed funeral director. In October of 2016, Marty and his wife, Kristy, purchased the Duhn Funeral Home from Allan and Judy. On January 1, 2017, the name of the funeral home was changed to Rieken Duhn Funeral Home. They continue to bring professionalism and compassion to the town of Griswold and the surrounding communities.
