Our History

Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home’s roots trace back to 1899, making it one of the oldest family-owned funeral homes in Indiana. On April 10, 1899 William H. Zwick bought an interest in the Auten & Gay Undertaking and Furniture Store in Decatur. William H. Zwick’s purchase began a thriving, family-owned tradition that has continued for more than 120 years and counting.

Early Years: From 1929 - 1978

April of 1929 marked a major transition for the funeral home. That’s when William H. Zwick purchased the remaining shares of the company. Not long after that, his son, Robert J. Zwick graduated from Mortuary School and joined the firm. The Zwicks renamed the funeral home W. H. Zwick & Son. Robert Zwick continued in the operation of the funeral home until his retirement in the late 1980's.

In 1934, the funeral home location moved from the furniture store near downtown Decatur to the Colonel Fred Reppert home, where activities continue today.

In 1953 the Zwicks sold the furniture portion of the business. Up to this point in time, a furniture store was often associated with a funeral home. However, following the conclusion of World War II, funeral homes began divesting themselves of furniture stores and focusing primarily on funeral service and ambulance service.

In 1960, Robert's son, William H. Zwick, joined the firm after his graduation from Valparaiso University, becoming the third generation to be involved in the funeral home, and the name was changed to Zwick Funeral Home, Inc.

In June of 1962, Dean Boltz joined the funeral home and continued until his retirement in 1987.



In 1975, Zwick Funeral Home turned over the ambulance service to the Adams County Commissioners. Prior to this date, funeral homes also ran ambulance services. This was a natural fit because of the specialized equipment that funeral homes possessed, making it easier to transfer individuals to and from hospitals.

From 1978 - 2000

In 1978, Mark R. Jahn joined the firm. He had worked at the D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Home in Fort Wayne from 1971 to 1978. Mark also came from a distinguished funeral home background. His father was well-known Wells County, Indiana funeral director Ralph Jahn, who operated the Jahn Funeral Home in Bluffton from 1922 to 1956. The name of the funeral home was changed to Zwick - Boltz & Jahn to reflect its new ownership. The name stayed Zwick – Boltz & Jahn until Dean Boltz retired in 1987, and then the funeral became known as Zwick & Jahn.



In June of 1993, Robert Zwick died, ending a chapter of more than 60 years of involvement in the funeral home's operation. Bob, as he was known, developed relationships with families that are still recalled today.

In 1993, Zwick & Jahn purchased the Marquart & Jacobs Funeral Home in Monroeville from Jerry L. Jacobs and his wife Rose. Since 1977, Jerry and Rose had operated the funeral home and served the residents of the Monroeville area with compassion and care. This purchase brought Jerry and Rose onto the Zwick & Jahn team. In the spring of 2013, Jerry and Rose decided to retire from the funeral business and spend time with their family...something they have earned!

In 1994, Jonathan R. Zwick, great-grandson of William H., joined the firm, becoming the fourth generation of the Zwick family to be involved with the funeral home.

In the winter of 1995, Zwick & Jahn purchased the May Tope property, just to the north of the funeral home, and had the house removed to create additional parking. With this purchase, off street parking was increased by 40 percent, creating additional flexibility was for larger funerals.

In the summer of 1998, construction began on the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, in Monroeville. The original funeral home was razed and a new, single level building was built -- complete with family lounge and a large area for services. The new facility was completed and dedicated in May 1999.

The 21 Century: New Vision and Services

In 2002, another transition occurred. Mark Jahn became the senior partner, changing place with Bill Zwick, who had been the senior partner until that time.

In March 2004, Zwick & Jahn was approached by Liby Monuments for the purchase of that business from longtime owners Clay and Jan Smith. Jan continues to serve as the office manager of Liby Monuments, drawing on her many years of experience to meet customers’ needs. This business has come full circle since the Zwick Funeral Home sold the same business in the middle 1950's to Dale Liby.

In January of 2005, construction started on a state-of-the-art, secure preparation room, hairdressing area, and family identification center that is located in a separate structure from the main funeral home at Zwick & Jahn. This created a specialized Care Center to accommodate individual family requests. In addition, it allowed for a secure chemical and biohazard area to be established, separate from any public areas, which aides in compliance with federal OSHA regulations.

In 2005, a substantial reconstruction of Second Street in Decatur resulted in many changes to the exterior of Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home. The improvements included new sidewalks, curbs, and street combined with a new landscape and irrigation design.

In May of 2007, the last and most extensive of the planned major improvements was initiated by Zwick & Jahn. These improvements, which started in 2004, modernized the facilities. This construction project involved two new covered public entrances, a portico for dismissing funerals, a three-stop elevator to provide access to all public areas of the funeral home, new handicap accessible restrooms, a second public lounge, expansion of the current lounge, a catering area for funeral dinners and non-traditional funeral services, and a new arrangement office and selection room.

In 2011, Molly Farthing was hired as a memorial designer at Liby Monuments and also received training as a funeral celebrant. With an increasing number of people without connection to a church, Molly's role as a funeral celebrant allows Zwick & Jahn to offer a unique, customized service which reflects the lifestyle of the deceased.

In 2013, Mackenzie Rupp became licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in the State of Indiana. She started her employment at Zwick & Jahn in 2010 and had continued in a part-time capacity until her educational requirements were completed. She then successfully transitioned into her job at Zwick & Jahn, becoming the first female funeral director in the firm’s history. In 2020, Mackenzie got married and moved to Ohio, where she currently resides and in 2023 met the qualifications for licensure in the State of Ohio.

Growth in the number of requests for a funeral celebrant led Zwick & Jahn to train Dave McIntire as a second certified funeral celebrant in 2016. Dave had joined the staff of Zwick & Jahn in 2013 after his retirement from the financial services profession.

In August of 2018, Zwick & Jahn purchased the Yager- Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne, Indiana from John Kirchhofer, and it was renamed Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager - Kirchhofer Chapel. John Kirchhofer had established a working relationship many years ago with Zwick & Jahn, and he felt it was time for him to retire from the profession following more than 40 years of service to the Berne community.

After the completion of the Yager - Kirchhofer purchase, Zwick & Jahn began an extensive renovation on the building in Berne, which included a new arrangement office, new family dining and lounge area, a catering kitchen area, and upgraded restrooms. With those renovations complete, the Yager - Kirchhofer Chapel offers expanded capabilities to serve families, and it’s all on one level.



In October of 2018, Zwick & Jahn welcomed back Shaun Rumschlag, who had worked with Zwick & Jahn 20 years earlier. In 1998, Shaun left funeral service entirely and eventually was employed at Bunge in Decatur for 18 years before he realized how much he missed funeral service and decided to return. Shaun currently serves as the Director of our Care Center.

Samuel Steiner has been with Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home since 2022 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. A native of Decatur, Sam is a 2016 graduate of Adams Central High School. Following high school, Sam enrolled in the Mortuary Science Program at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, graduating in June of 2020. During his education, he also became a Certified Crematory Operator. Following the successful completion of his Mortuary Science Degree, Sam passed the National Boards. He then completed his internship and passed his Indiana State Board exam, becoming a licensed funeral director in August of 2021.

Today, Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home has locations in Decatur, Berne and Monroeville and serves families in Ohio and Indiana with the same caring and individual attention that has been a trademark since 1899.