Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory of
Dubuque received the Iowa Award of Funeral Service Excellence at the 146th Annual Iowa
Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) Convention held April 14-16, 2026 at Prairie Meadows
Convention Center in Altoona, Iowa.

The Iowa Award of Funeral Service Excellence recognizes a funeral home’s exemplary service to
the community it serves. Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory, which
has been serving Dubuque and the surrounding communities for 180 years, was one of 12 funeral
homes from throughout the state to receive the award. It is the first year the funeral home has
been recognized by peers for this achievement. To qualify, a funeral home must excel in four of
five areas: presentation of public information, active membership in the state association,
sponsorship of community events or services, professional development, and personal
development.

This year’s Annual IFDA Convention featured highly regarded local and national funeral service
speakers who presented current information on bereavement education, business and
management practices, regulatory updates, technical skills and training, and additional topics
related to the funeral service profession. The Annual IFDA Convention provides funeral directors
with a forum to receive and exchange information so they may return home with new ideas that
will allow them to better serve the families in their communities.

IFDA represents over 700 Iowa licensed funeral directors and 425 funeral home establishments
throughout the state. The mission of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association is to promote and
support funeral service excellence. To that end, IFDA promotes high standards within the field of
funeral service through continuing education programs, legislative representation, and service
to Iowa communities. For more information, please visit www.iafda.org.