Our History

A Heritage of Service to the Community

When our firm was founded, Ronald and Mildred Smith provided both funeral and ambulance services to the community. Ronald also served as the village’s official Santa Claus. In the early 1970s, the firm was purchased by Robert Starks, with Ralph Sommerfeld joining the company in 1979. The chapel was returned to local ownership in 2004, and today Ralph Sommerfeld and his staff continue the company’s tradition of thoughtful, professional, and affordable care for the families of New Buffalo and the surrounding communities.

Over 90 years ago, Ronald and Mildred Smith established Smith Funeral Home, which provided both funeral and ambulance services to the community. Ronald Smith was also very active in civic affairs. This included charter membership and presidency of the New Buffalo Lions Club, and his favorite duty — acting as the village’s official Santa Claus, a role he played for 19 years.

In the early 1970s, Robert Starks purchased the firm. It was re-named Kerley-Starks & Smith Funeral Home. The firm continued the heritage of service and compassion started by the Smiths. In 1975, Ronald Smith came out of retirement, and continued to build on the funeral home’s legacy.

In 1979, the current Funeral Director - Ralph Sommerfeld - joined the staff, and worked with Ronald Smith until Ron’s death in June of 1981. Ralph then became manager.

In 1993 the funeral home was sold to Prime Succession, and was corporate owned until 2004, when it was re-purchased by the Starks family along with partner Ralph Sommerfeld and returned it to local ownership.

Today Ralph Sommerfeld and his staff continue the company’s tradition of thoughtful, professional, and affordable care for the families of New Buffalo and the surrounding communities.