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Graydon grew up in Centerville, Iowa, where his father, Jon Schmidt, owned and operated Schmidt Family Funeral Homes in Centerville and Moulton for 23 years. While his mother, Robin, ran her coffee and home decor gift shop on Centerville Square. He is the little brother of two sisters and grew up in the funeral home, learning the industry at a very young age. He is now following his father’s footsteps into becoming a second-generation funeral director.



After graduating from Centerville High School in 2015, he departed for DMACC first to obtain his associate’s degree in business administration, then completed his mortuary science degree in March of 2018. Graydon worked at Ankeny Memorial Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery while attending Mortuary College. After completing Mortuary College, Graydon served his internship at Ankeny Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery and worked there briefly as a licensed funeral director. Graydon moved to Atlantic in May of 2019 with the desire and passion of serving families with a high standard of service.

On August 31, 2021, the Schmidt Family had the privilege to purchase the Hockenberry Funeral Homes in Atlantic, Anita, and Adair, IA. On April 22, 2024, the Schmidt Family expanded and purchased the Kessler Funeral Homes with locations in Audubon & Exira, IA.

He is a proud uncle who loves being involved in family events. On May 7, 2023, Graydon married Madeline Nelson, an Atlantic native. Together they have two dogs: Sully, who is a Dalmatian, and Dallas, who is a Husky. As a family, we call Atlantic home.

In July of 2023, Graydon will be Atlantic Rotary Club President. He has been a board member for several years and participates in many Rotary community events. Being a proud Rotarian, like the Rotary International motto, Graydon is “Service Above Self.”

Graydon is also involved with the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, where he currently sits on a board position and has for several years. Graydon is a member of the Atlantic Golf & Country Club, where he enjoys occasional golf with his wife and many friends.

As a natural volunteer, Graydon annually volunteers to work at many home football games, track meets Atlantic Chamber or Rotary events. Besides being dedicated to funeral service, you can find Graydon at home with family or at a community event.

The Schmidt Family plans to serve these communities and surrounding areas with the passion of "Creating a Higher Standard of Service.”

Jon grew up on a farm near the small town of West Bend, Iowa. After graduation from high school, he pursued other interests while attending college in Fort Dodge and Iowa Falls where he completed an agricultural marketing degree. Jon’s first exposure to funeral service came as a monument salesman for a group of funeral homes in and around Creston, Iowa. While assisting the funeral homes with services a passion soon grew within him. So, he set off to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Des Plaines, IL where he received his mortuary degree in 1988.

The first location to serve families as a funeral director was in Hampton, Iowa, then moved to Parkersburg, Iowa. In March of 1994, He and his wife, Robin, were able to purchase funeral homes in Centerville and Moulton, Iowa where Schmidt Family Funeral Homes began serving families for over 23 years.

In 2017, the Schmidts sold the funeral homes and moved to Omaha, NE to be near their daughters’ families; Blair Kauzlarich and her husband, Kyle, and their children, Vivian, Hank, and Callum of Omaha, and Avery Dickinson and her husband, Blake, and their children, Chase, Theo and Scotlyn of Council Bluffs. At this time, their son, Graydon was entering a funeral service in Ankeny, Iowa.

Jon continued to work at an Omaha funeral home until September of 2021, when he and his wife along with their son, Graydon, purchased the Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic. On August 31, 2021, the Schmidt Family had the privilege to purchase the Hockenberry Funeral Homes in Atlantic, Anita, and Adair, IA. On April 22, 2024, the Schmidt Family expanded and purchased the Kessler Funeral Homes with locations in Audubon & Exira, IA.

The Schmidts are pleased they are able to be close to family while serving those of Atlantic, Anita and Adair, Iowa. Jon is a licensed funeral director in the states of Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. Also, a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, a notary for the state of Iowa and holds an Iowa insurance license.

Jon’s passion for funeral service runs deep. He believes “Creating A Higher Standard Of Service'' for those families they serve, is of utmost importance.