Professional Staff
Jeffrey A. Petersen, Funeral Director/Owner
 Jeffrey A. Petersen, a licensed funeral director, has served as a member of the professional staff at Overton Funeral Home since December, 1989. Jeff and his wife Mary assumed the ownership and management responsibilities of the funeral home, September 13, 2007.
A native of Clear Lake, Iowa, Jeff attended North Iowa Area Community College prior to graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1988. He received his license for funeral directing and embalming by the State of Iowa in 1989. Jeff is licensed as an insurance agent by the State of Iowa Insurance Division. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and Iowa Funeral Directors Association. He is a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church and a member and past president of the Indianola Noon Lions Club. He also served on the boards of the following organizations: Indianola Community Foundation, Indianola Good Samaritan Advisory Board, and the Indianola Youth Football League. He enjoys biking, golfing, and hunting.
His wife Mary assists in the funeral home operation. Jeff and Mary have three children, Alex, Megan, and Nicholas.
John L. Overton, Funeral Director
 John Overton is a licensed funeral director and the retired president of Overton Funeral Home. With over 38 years of service, he is a third generation family member to serve his community as a funeral director. John and his wife Barbara, succeeded his parents, Everett and Grace Overton as funeral home owners; his grandfather, Lewis Overton was the founder of Overton Funeral Home.
John attended Simpson College and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Mortuary Science. He was licensed as a funeral director/embalmer by the State of Iowa in 1966. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Iowa Funeral Directors Association. He is also licensed as an insurance agent, by the State of Iowa Insurance Division. John served in the United States Army Reserves and National Guard, 1967 -1972. He is a member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church where he has served as an ordained elder. He is also a member and past president of the Indianola Rotary Club and member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He previously served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce and Indianola Community. He enjoys watching spectator sports, reading, and golfing.
John’s wife Barbara assisted with the operations of Overton Funeral Home. John and Barb’s family include three married children and three grandchildren, Bruce and Sable, Lee and Chris of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Derek and Jen and Jackson of Indianola; and a daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Michael Stefko of Dallas, Texas.
Support Staff
Barbara A. Overton
 Barbara Overton served as the treasurer for Overton Funeral Home and assisted with the operations of the funeral home. A graduate of Colorado State University and the University of Missouri, she served as the bookkeeper and provided assistance with marketing and community outreach programs. She has provided additional assistance for services and visitations and with the funeral home aftercare program.
Barbara is a member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, TTT, Simpson Guild, and the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She is a past member and chairperson of the Indianola Parks and Recreation Commission and has served the Indianola community in numerous volunteer roles. She is a recipient of the Simpson College Achievement Award for Distinguished Community Service.
Barbara previously served as an assistant professor and the Director of Physical Education at Simpson College. She is presently a part-time assistant women’s volleyball coach at Simpson.
Mary Petersen, Office Secretary/Receptionist
 Mary Petersen is the office secretary and receptionist, providing funeral home assistance in numerous areas of operation. She assists with correspondence, notifications of death, and the filing of death certificates. Mary is responsible for the creation of customized memorial folders and personalized video tributes for families and coordinates the special aftercare programs established by the funeral home. She assists with funeral services and memorial services and visitations.
Mary is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Hearold E. McElwee
 Hearold E. McElwee has served on the support staff at Overton Funeral Home as a part-time employee since 1977. Harold assists with visitations and services as an usher, receptionist, and driver for the funeral home. He assists with the delivery of service notices in the Indianola and Warren County communities and the set-up for funerals and memorial services. He is a retired pastor and was active in the ministry of the Christian Union denomination for over 30 years.
Shirley Schoen
 Shirley Schoen is the most recent member of the funeral home staff, working part-time since 2001. She is a receptionist and assists with services and visitations.
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