OUR LOCATIONS

Nestled conveniently in downtown Osage City, VanArsdale Funeral Chapel sits on the corner of 6th and Market, in the same place funeral services have been sought out for over 150 years. VanArsdale Funeral Chapel was purchased by Mike and Sheri VanArsdale on January 29, 1999, making them only the 3rd family to ever own the building in its long history.

The original ‘funeral home’ was operated out of the adjoining McElfresh building facing Market Street (‘McElfresh’ can be seen on the south side of the building façade). In 1885, O.E. “Oscar” McElfresh and his business partner, W.P. Deaver, operated a store-front offering furniture, carpets, wallpaper, caskets, and undertaking services. In June of 1895, Deaver retired and sold the remainder of his shares to McElfresh, and thus it was known as O.E. McElfresh and Son. O.E.’s youngest son, William Leslie, joined his father in the family trade, and upon his father’s retirement, changed the name to W.L. McElfresh Company. 

As time went on and funeral services moved from taking place at family homes to a more specific, centralized location, the funeral chapel was incorporated into the North side of the McElfresh store to accommodate the public’s needs. William was joined in the company by his son, Hayden, in the funeral industry until Hayden’s unexpected death in 1940. The W.L. McElfresh and Son Mortuary stayed in the McElfresh family until the late 1970’s, when ownership changed to Max & Donna Crable. It was from the Crable’s that Mike and Sheri would purchase the funeral home. 

Today, VanArsdale Funeral Chapel operates out of the same building that has been serving the Osage City community for over a century. Many of the exterior walls remain the same as when they were first constructed, fitting right in with the mix of our modern and historic downtown.