Our Staff

Adam Rentschler – Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer

Adam Rentschler, Funeral Director/Embalmer/Owner

Adam is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  A second generation Smith Center native, Adam is the son of Ron & Theresa Rentschler and the grandson of LaVern & Judy Rentschler.  Adam graduated from Smith Center High School in 1997.  He began his funeral career working for the former owners of Simmons Mortuary in Smith Center in 1995 assisting the great staff with all aspects of the business.  Upon obtaining in 2000 an A.A.S. degree in Mortuary Science from Kansas City Kansas Community College, Adam has worked for funeral service providers in the Shawnee, KS, Topeka, KS, and Plainville, KS area as a branch location manager.  In 2005 the opportunity surfaced to move back to Smith Center and manage the funeral home for the Simmons-Olliff-Boeve Chapel.  After managing the firm for a couple years, the opportunity was given to purchase full ownership of the firm in 2007.

Adam is married to the former Merissa Wagner of Kensington.  They have four daughters, Tallon, Tinley, and twins Tatumn & Turner.  Adam is almost seen everyday around town with the amount of time he dedicates to his community.  He is a councilman for the City of Smith Center, has served on the Smith Center Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2006 and been president, KFDA District Director representing 24 Kansas counties, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team 7 Mortuary Officer, KFDA Disaster Committee Member, Smith County Local Emergency Planning Committee Member, one of the organizers of the Redmen Tailgate and Scholarship, Substitute teacher, member of Men’s League Golf, very active with our school district with numerous events, member of the Smith Center Municipal Golf Course, active member of the Smith Center Redcaps, active member of Kiwanis, helps prepare & serve the “Home for the Holidays” meal, is a member of the Smith Center Fire & Rescue Squad, Girls Youth Softball Coach, Meals-on-Wheels Volunteer, is a member of the United Church of Kensington, a Gideon member and is very active with his children’s activities.  Adam believes that giving back to your community and its youth through volunteer activities is a great way to encourage them to return or stay in Smith Center.

David Tharp – Funeral Director/Embalmer

David Tharp, Funeral Director/Embalmer

David is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. David is the son of Jim and Jean (Macklin) Tharp and a lifelong resident of Smith Center, with a long family heritage in this county as his mother’s family settled in Smith County in 1895. David graduated from Smith Center High School in 1998. While attending college, David began his funeral career in 2005, working for Simmons-Olliff-Boeve in Smith Center. During college he also worked for an embalming service in Topeka, KS. In 2007 he graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College with an A.A.S. degree in Mortuary Science, and  soon after graduation began his career with Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary in Smith Center.

David is one of the organizers of the Redmen Tailgate and Scholarship, Meals-on-Wheels volunteer, helps prepare & serve the “Home for the Holidays” meal, is a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Smith Center, active member of Kiwanis, active member of the Smith Center Redcaps and a member of the Smith Center Municipal Golf Course & is a member of the Smith Center Fire & Rescue Squad. David is looking forward to helping the people of this area through his work at Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary and through serving in various community organizations.