Our History & Staff

Vigen Memorial Home has been serving Keokuk, IA and Kahoka, MO area families for years. We are honored to be a part of the rich history of this community and plan to be a part of it for many years to come.

Staff members of Vigen Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.

Our Beginnings

The Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk was constructed in 1929 and was one of the first buildings in the state of Iowa to be built for use strictly as a funeral home. It was known then as the Cunningham Funeral home. In 1978, Marcus Vigen acquired the business, known as the Schmidt Memorial Home. Through the years, several remodeling projects have brought this building to it's present condition, offering a warm, comfortable atmosphere and ample room for visitations and funerals.

In 1994, Vigen Memorial Home expanded to include a branch in Kahoka, Missouri, and acquired the Shaffer Funeral Home. Originally founded in 1873 as the Karle Funeral Home, it has roots deep in the history of Kahoka. A major remodeling project in 1996 updated the facility and created a welcoming environment for the community.

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Marcus Vigen Owner and Licensed Funeral Director mlvigen@gmail.com

Marcus grew up in Northeast Iowa in St. Olaf, IA, and graduated from the Elkader High School, Elkader, IA in 1972. He moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and attended and graduated from the Kirkwood Community College in 1975. He then moved to Chicago to attend the Worsham Mortuary College and graduated in 1976, Moving back to Iowa to serve his internship at the Hayden Funeral Home in Wyoming, IA. After receiving his funeral director license moved back to Cedar Rapids to work at the John B. Turner & Sons Funeral Home.

Marcus purchased the Schmidt Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA in 1978 and this is where he has made his home ever since. Being on the Illinois and Missouri border he obtained his Illinois and Missouri Funeral director and Embalmers License.

In 1994 he purchased the former Shaffer and Sons Funeral Home in Kahoka, MO, now named, Vigen Memorial Home. In 2018, the opportunity arose to purchase a building in Montrose, IA and the Vigen Memorial Home Chapel of Montrose was established.  

Marcus and Sarah were married in 2005 and together they strive to help families create a personalized tribute to their loved ones.

Marcus and Sarah are members of the First Christian Church in Keokuk.

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Sarah Vigen Owner and Licensed Funeral Director sjvigen@live.com

Sarah has lived in Keokuk since 1970 when her family moved here from southern Illinois. She graduated from Keokuk High School and then attended Lincoln Christian College for one year. She returned to Keokuk and graduated from Southeastern Community College and furthered her education at George Williams College in Downers Grove, IL where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Sarah began her employment with Vigen Memorial Home in 1995. In 2001, she decided to return to school to further her education in funeral service. Sarah graduated from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO in August of 2003 with a degree in Mortuary Science. She has received her funeral directors licenses for Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.

Sarah and Marcus Vigen were married in 2005 and together they strive to help families create a personalized tribute to their loved ones.

Sarah and Marcus are members of the First Christian Church in Keokuk.

Sarah is an active member of the Great River Players Community Theater, voluntering in various ways as well as appearing on stage from time to time.   Music is a big part of her life and she currently is the organist at All Saints Catholic Church and St. Johns Episcopal Church in Keokuk.

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Melissa Vigen Licensed Funeral Director

Melissa was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and at the age of 3 moved to Keokuk with her parents. She was a 1994 graduate of the Keokuk High School and a 2002 graduate of the Carl Sandburg College, Mortuary Science Department. Melissa received her funeral directors license in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. She is currently working at the Vigen Memorial Home in Kahoka, MO where she resides with her husband Jason and her two sons, Ryan and Brent.

Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching her sons in their sporting events, traveling and helping and doing things for the community.

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Jennifer Briscoe Office Support Staff

Jennifer position at Vigen Memorial home is Secretary and office manager. Jennifer is a Keokuk native and graduated from Keokuk High School. She is married to Dustin and they have two children and one grandson.

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Mike Shea Funeral Service Assistant

Mike has assisted with services at the Vigen Memorial Homes in Keokuk and Kahoka since June of 1997 as "The Coach Driver".


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Wayne Blum Licensed Funeral Director in Missouri - Retired

A life-long resident of Clark County, Wayne has assisted with funeral services for many years.

He is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ and is a member of many organizations.

Marcus Vigen

Owner and Licensed Funeral Director
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Marcus grew up in Northeast Iowa in St. Olaf, IA, and graduated from the Elkader High School, Elkader, IA in 1972. He moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and attended and graduated from the Kirkwood Community College in 1975. He then moved to Chicago to attend the Worsham Mortuary College and graduated in 1976, Moving back to Iowa to serve his internship at the Hayden Funeral Home in Wyoming, IA. After receiving his funeral director license moved back to Cedar Rapids to work at the John B. Turner & Sons Funeral Home.

Marcus purchased the Schmidt Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA in 1978 and this is where he has made his home ever since. Being on the Illinois and Missouri border he obtained his Illinois and Missouri Funeral director and Embalmers License.

In 1994 he purchased the former Shaffer and Sons Funeral Home in Kahoka, MO, now named, Vigen Memorial Home. In 2018, the opportunity arose to purchase a building in Montrose, IA and the Vigen Memorial Home Chapel of Montrose was established.  

Marcus and Sarah were married in 2005 and together they strive to help families create a personalized tribute to their loved ones.

Marcus and Sarah are members of the First Christian Church in Keokuk.

Sarah Vigen

Owner and Licensed Funeral Director
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Sarah has lived in Keokuk since 1970 when her family moved here from southern Illinois. She graduated from Keokuk High School and then attended Lincoln Christian College for one year. She returned to Keokuk and graduated from Southeastern Community College and furthered her education at George Williams College in Downers Grove, IL where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Sarah began her employment with Vigen Memorial Home in 1995. In 2001, she decided to return to school to further her education in funeral service. Sarah graduated from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO in August of 2003 with a degree in Mortuary Science. She has received her funeral directors licenses for Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.

Sarah and Marcus Vigen were married in 2005 and together they strive to help families create a personalized tribute to their loved ones.

Sarah and Marcus are members of the First Christian Church in Keokuk.

Sarah is an active member of the Great River Players Community Theater, voluntering in various ways as well as appearing on stage from time to time.   Music is a big part of her life and she currently is the organist at All Saints Catholic Church and St. Johns Episcopal Church in Keokuk.

Melissa Vigen

Licensed Funeral Director
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Melissa was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and at the age of 3 moved to Keokuk with her parents. She was a 1994 graduate of the Keokuk High School and a 2002 graduate of the Carl Sandburg College, Mortuary Science Department. Melissa received her funeral directors license in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. She is currently working at the Vigen Memorial Home in Kahoka, MO where she resides with her husband Jason and her two sons, Ryan and Brent.

Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching her sons in their sporting events, traveling and helping and doing things for the community.

Jennifer Briscoe

Office Support Staff
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Jennifer position at Vigen Memorial home is Secretary and office manager. Jennifer is a Keokuk native and graduated from Keokuk High School. She is married to Dustin and they have two children and one grandson.

Mike Shea

Funeral Service Assistant
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Mike has assisted with services at the Vigen Memorial Homes in Keokuk and Kahoka since June of 1997 as "The Coach Driver".

Wayne Blum

Licensed Funeral Director in Missouri - Retired
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A life-long resident of Clark County, Wayne has assisted with funeral services for many years.

He is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ and is a member of many organizations.