Jack Koppa and Kathleen Dufault stand outside the Mayer Funeral Home Tuesday morning. Mayer has merged with Mahn Family Funeral Home out of Red Wing, which bought the Austin funeral home in April. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Mayer merges with Red Wing funeral home

Mayer Funeral Home, which has served families in the Austin area for nearly 100 years, recently merged with Mahn Family Funeral Home of Red Wing.

“It just worked out really well,” said Mahn Funeral Director Joe Mahn. “Everything has just worked out really smoothly.”

The merger took place at the end of April, with Mahn purchasing the property. While Mayer will be under new ownership, Joe Mahn said much about the funeral home will remain entirely unchanged.

For starters, the two full-time staff members, Jack Koppa and Kathleen Dufault, will stay.

The funeral home’s services will not change, he added, and the location’s name will remain the same.

“We plan on running it the same as Jack has and providing the same quality service that he’s always had there,” Joe Mahn said.

Koppa, owner of Mayer for the past 17 years, said the switch to new ownership has gone well so far.

“I’m extremely pleased with how the transition is going,” he said. Koppa has been with the funeral home for the last 34 years.

According to a joint news release from the funeral homes, Koppa will continue to work for and be an integral part of the funeral home without shouldering the day-to-day worries and responsibilities that come with being an owner.

“I know the Mahn family will continue with the care and compassion for the families they serve as we have done in the past,” Koppa said in the release.

He believes Mahn was the right fit for the funeral home, he added.

The Mahn family consists of two brothers: John Mahn, with 30 years of experience in the funeral industry, and David Mahn, with 22. Joe, who has been funeral director for the past seven years, is John’s son and grew up in the funeral business.

“We’re confident they will be a welcome asset to our community,” Koppa said in the release.

Koppa declined to comment about reasons for the merger.

Frank Mayer founded Mayer Funeral Home in 1915. Since then, ownership passed down to John F. Mayer Sr., then to John F. Mayer Jr. In 1995, Koppa purchased the funeral home. Apart from its two full-time employees, Mayer employs five workers on a part-time basis; four help out with funerals and one works as a secretary.