Sietsema-Atkinson break ground on new funeral home in Hampton

Ground has been broken on a new funeral home to serve the Hampton area.

Representatives of Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home recently celebrated the beginning of construction on the Hampton facility, located on a plot of land along High-way 65 between Pralle City Wash and Wood Vision Clin-ic.

Kyle Atkinson, owner and funeral director, said the new facility will be easily accessible as a single level, modern building with a lunch hall that can accommodate up to 125 guests.

Ground was broken on the facility three weeks ago and work is well underway, with walls expected to be constructed soon. Todd Sietsema, owner and funeral home director, said the Sietsema-Atkinson group is excited that construction has begun on the new facility and moves one step closer towards a physical location in Hampton.

“We’re excited to finally get a location in town, which will be at a great location for us,” he said. “ It will be nice to offer more options to the community and this will be a place where families can have a funeral and a reception all in one location or also use the lunch hall during visitations.”

Atkinson said the group hopes to have the building complete and functional by early October, but updates will be provided via the Sietsema-Atkinson website and Facebook pages.

In the meantime, Sietsema-Atkinson will be able to serve the area in a modified way. Todd Sietsema said the funeral home does have the proper licenses to operate in the area and is able to conduct services out of local churches as well as offer pre-arrangements.

“We do our prep work at the funeral home in Iowa Falls that I operate with Scott (Sietsema) and our father (Randy Sietsema),” he said. “We can meet with families in the churches or go to their homes where we can make funeral arrangements with them there.”

With the physical location and ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Atkinson said the facility will be large enough to accommodate physical distancing guidelines and other safety precautions should restrictions remain when the building opens.

Patrick Sietsema said the group is thrilled to finally be able to offer a physical location in the Hampton community, as his grandfather Harvey Sietsema started a funeral business in Hampton in 1959.

“We’re looking to continue the family tradition on in our community,” Patrick said, adding that Atkinson, a Sheffield native, too has an ambition to serve the area. “People know us, trust us and we feel our presence will be well received within our communities.”

“I think it’s really neat for the community to have the opportunity for a third-generation of funeral directors to work in Hampton and for Todd and I to be following in our grandfather’s (Gordon Sietsema) footsteps,” added Scott. “To have a building solidifies our presence.”