Sleeper Mortuary

Historical Overview

Sleeper Mortuary in Iola, Kansas has a long local history tied to the Sleeper family and Iola’s funeral/furniture business era.
Lyman Sleeper established Sleeper Furniture Company and Mortuary in 1886. The business became a long-running Iola institution, serving the community for more than a century. Later, Roy Sleeper operated Sleeper Furniture and Sleeper Mortuary, and family members including John Sleeper were connected to the mortuary trade.
The original business reportedly suffered two fires. One major fire destroyed the original building around 1920, after which the business was rebuilt next door. The mortuary continued operating until 1999.
The building now associated with Sleeper Mortuary is at 110 N. Washington Ave., Iola, KS. Current public/event listings describe it as a historic former funeral parlor with about 15,000 square feet, three floors, and an original first-floor funeral-home layout. It is now used for overnight stays, tours, and paranormal investigations.
A few notable historical points:

• Founded: 1886 by Lyman Sleeper.
• Business type: Furniture company and mortuary, which was common in that era because furniture makers often made coffins and provided undertaking services.
• Fire history: The original location reportedly burned, with a major destruction/rebuild around 1920.
• Family legacy: Alan Sleeper, grandson of Lyman Sleeper, later created the Sleeper Family Trust in 1975 to support the Bowlus Fine Arts Center in Iola.
• Closed as mortuary: 1999, according to event/history listings.
• Current use: Historic/paranormal investigation location.