Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home

Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home was founded in 1906 as Brinkopf Furniture and Undertaking Co. In 1924, Al Brinkopf purchased the Phillipson residence at 536 Broadway and renovated it to become Brinkopf Funeral Home. This was the first funeral home building to be used between St. Louis, Mo. and Memphis, Tenn.

In 1930, daughter Erna married Mr. Joe G. Howell, and shortly thereafter assumed ownership of the funeral home and the name became Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home.

When Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Grossheider and their son Neal H. Grossheider, president, purchased the funeral home the name then became Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home, Inc.

In 1975, Lester R. Burchyett, Sr., vice president, and Joe L. Lowes, vice president, became stockholders of the corporation.

--from Area Business and History, June 21, 1984 Southeast Missourian

[In 1917, Al Brinkopf bought the William Seehausen saloon building at Broadway and Frederick Street, what is now Shivelbine’s Music Store. Brinkopf made it part of his furniture business.]

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Feb. 18, 1917 Out of the Past, Southeast Missourian:

Cape Girardeau has one less saloon; the William Seehausen saloon at Broadway and Frederick Street, the one that has long stood out boldly because of the gang of loafers that hung about the place and embarrassed passersby, closed its doors last night and won't re-open; the building was bought by Al Brinkopf, who will remodel it and make it a part of his furniture business.

July 5, 1994 Out of the Past, Southeast Missourian:

The former Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home, 536 Broadway, has been purchased by Affiliated Bank Group in Wichita, Kansas; no immediate plans were announced by the company, but one report indicates it may be used for a bed-and-breakfast or restaurant; the building was last used by the Oxford House Inc. as a residence for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts; it has been vacant the past year. [The Oxford House was established in the city in 1990.]

The site is now Annie Laurie's Antiques.