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The story of our funeral home begins in 1894, when L.M. Penwell established the Penwell Undertaking Company at 511 Quincy. It was later moved to 9th and Topeka Boulevard, where it served the community from 1938-1948. Laurence Gabel purchased the funeral home in 1945.
The State of Kansas wanted the property at 9th and Topeka Boulevard to build the Docking State Office Building, so Gabel built the funeral home known as Penwell-Gabel's Mid-Town Chapel at 10th and Lane in 1948. In 1978, Ren and Theresa Newcomer purchased the funeral home and the family continues to lead the funeral home to this day.
Penwell-Gabel's Mid-Town Chapel at 10th & Lane today
The funeral home located at 9th & Topeka Boulevard, circa 1940.
Penwell-Gabel horse-drawn hearses and carriages.
An early architect's concept of the funeral home at 10th & Lane prior to construction, published in The Topeka Daily Capital newspaper in 1946.
An artist's rendering of the current funeral home on a brochure from 1948.
Penwell-Gabel is privately owned by the Newcomer family.
Our funeral home is privately-owned by the Newcomer family, who has been in funeral service for five generations. The tradition began in 1893, when D.W. Newcomer opened a funeral home in Kansas City. Followed by his son David, grandson Warren, great-grandson Ren, and great-great grandchildren Maggie & John, the tradition of providing quality funeral and cremation services at a fair price has guided the family for generations.
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