Mid-Prairie Alumni Awards Community Impact Award Meg Peterseim Nagel

Class of 1987

A community relies heavily on its impactful people who support others in a variety of ways. The Mid-Prairie community thrives because of those within our community who dedicate their time and efforts toward helping others. One community member who has made a huge impact in supporting those within our Mid-Prairie community is Meg Peterseim Nagel ‘87. Nagel is the year’s alumni community impact award recipient.

From a very young age, Nagel began helping her parents in their family funeral home, originally named Peterseim Funeral Home and later Beatty & Peterseim Funeral & Monument Services. Her father, Harold “Short” Peterseim, taught her to embalm when she was in high school. After graduating from Mid-Prairie with the class of 1987, she studied for two years at the University of Iowa before continuing on to mortuary school at Worsham College of Mortuary Science. When she graduated from Worsham in 1992, Nagel returned to Kalona and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She continued her education and attained a degree in Psychology at the University of Iowa in 2000.

Over the course of her career, Nagel remembers some highlights that have made the years memorable. A favorite memory was a recognition she received when graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduation, she was given their alumni award because her grandfather, Rollin Peterseim, graduated from the college in 1915. Being the third generation of funeral directors in the Peterseim family business has meant a lot to Nagel as she has continued her career.

Throughout the years, Nagel has enjoyed music as an important part of her life. Her life-long love of music was fostered by her wonderful Mid-Prairie music instructors, including David Rhodes, Dr. Louise Frakes, Becky Curtis, John Woodin and Bob Gaston. They all showed her the importance of music in her life through their own commitment to their students and passion for their work. She gratefully attributes the impact music has had on her career to the support and inspiration of these Mid-Prairie staff members. Her line of work can be stressful, and music is how she unwinds and relaxes.

Nagel’s career is her way of making a positive impact in the Mid-Prairie community. She wants to support grieving families the best that she can. When she’s helping them make final arrangements and say goodbye to their loved ones, she tries to remember how she felt when she lost her own father and what she needed at that time. Nagel’s hope is to ease someone’s burden, even a little, as they go through one of their most difficult life experiences.

Nagel’s impact on our community has not been by accident. The way she conducts her family business and supports the community is intentional. She always tries to treat people with dignity and respect, and her goal each day, especially on the difficult days, is to help at least one person.

In reaching where she’s at today, Nagel is thankful for the strong influence of her parents while growing up. Her parents, “Short” and Jan Peterseim, taught her the importance of community as they worked tirelessly to help make Kalona a place people wanted to visit and live. They also taught her the importance of helping others and always being available when needed, even when that requires personal sacrifices. With their mentorship, it’s no wonder that Nagel has continued to portray this same influence and support to her community.

The Mid-Prairie community is lucky to have such kind and helpful support through Nagel’s generations-long family business. She has touched the lives of many in our community, and she continues to contribute to making this one of the best places to live.