Newberg Chapel - Our History
In 1900 Moses Vatar started a Funeral and General Store business at the corner of First and Blaine Streets. In 1905 W.W. Hollingsworth joined him and they built the red brick building on the corner of First and Howard Streets. This was known as the Hollingsworth Funeral and Furniture Store. Mr. George Gwin became a partner in 1926, and later closed out the furniture part of the business.
The building was remodeled with a portion becoming the Dents Stationary and Gift Store. Through the years the funeral chapel was owned by Gene Smith and Jerry Mannenbach. Leonard Attrell joined Mr. Mannenbach in 1964 and then became sole owner in June 1966. The Attrells relocated to the building on Villa Road on January 1, 1976.
The Hodson Funeral Home was started in 1915 and sold to Mr. Gwin until it was purchased by Roy Brown in 1956. Mr. Brown retired in 1978 and sold the funeral business to Leonard and Gloria Attrell, who merged it into their new facility.
Sherwood Chapel - Our History
The Sherwood Chapel has been serving Sherwood and the surrounding metropolitan area since 1966. The Sherwood Chapel was started at the present location in 1958 by Gene Smith, who also owned and operated Hollingsworth and Gwin Funeral Home in Newberg. The two-story building had formally housed Dr, Rickard’s office in 1914 and was also the home of the Rebecca Lodge.
Mr. Smith remodeled the second story with a slanted roof. In 1963, he sold both the Sherwood and Newberg Chapels to Jerry Mannenbach, who operated them until 1966, when they were purchased by Leonard and Gloria Attrell. In 1980, the Sherwood Chapel roof blew off during a severe storm. It was then that the tile roof was installed and the interior was completely refurbished. In 1987, a major remodeling and enlarging took place with a new entrance, additional visitation rooms and office area, making it a complete funeral facility with a service area seating 175 people.
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Dennis M. Marteeny Funeral Director - Manager
Dennis was born and raised in a rural farming community in Southeast Idaho. It is there he learned the importance of serving a community by coming together to pay tribute to those who have died and help support the ones who are left to mourn their loss. He joined our funeral homes in August of 2015.Dennis attended the University of Idaho, Mount Hood Community College and received a degree in mortuary science. Dennis is grateful for the experience gained as a student, apprentice, funeral director, embalmer and manager of funeral homes in Portland. He has been in funeral service since 2000. Prior to being a mortician Dennis was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Northeast Ohio for a few years.Dennis enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures, food and all sorts of music. He spends his spare time with family, friends and constantly working on their over 100 year old house. "I truly enjoy meeting and becoming part of the communities that are served through the funeral homes."
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Susan Bennett Administrative Assistant
Suzie began working for Attrell’s as office Administrator since June of 2017She was born in Portland and has lived all over Oregon. She took business courses at the community college and has over 25 years’ experience as a Manager/Print Tech.She has two adult sons and a large extended family she is devoted to.Suzie is compassionate and dedicated to helping all the families that come to Attrell’s and above all listens and cares about. She is also very talented with the making of our video tributes.
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Mark Thompson Funeral Associate
Mark has lived in Newberg for over 30 years with his wife Jan. They have two kids and 5 grandchildren. He has had experience in emergency medical ambulance service, Pastor ministry, beekeeper, self employed specialty coffee roaster, and cemetery Sexton. Mark has said that “bringing dignity and respect to those who have died and ministering hope and comfort to hurting family’s is rewarding.”
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Eli Thompson Funeral Associate
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Jim Jackson Funeral Associate
Jim is originally from Seattle but has lived in Newberg since 1970, except for four years in Kansas. He recently completed more than 38 years as an administrator in Christian higher education, including George Fox University. He is a licensed real estate broker serving clients here in the local area. He is a board member at Friendsview Retirement Community and the Newberg Kiwanis Club. He considers all he does, especially here at Attrell’s, to be a ministry. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown daughters and enjoy traveling.
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Kirk VandenHoek Licensed Funeral Director
Kirk was born in Newberg – literally just across the parking lot from Attrell’s Funeral Chapel. When Kirk was 4 years old his parents moved the family to Boise, ID where he loved growing up in the wide open spaces of Southern Idaho.After graduating from HS Kirk returned to Newberg and attended George Fox College. Kirk’s dorm his freshman year was once again just across a parking lot from Attrell’s funeral Chapel. After graduating from George Fox, Kirk had a wide variety of life experiences and employment that all prepared him, in one form or another, for his eventual role as a funeral director. He lived and worked overseas for two years, worked in the residential construction field, spent many years with Medical Teams International, received his realtor’s license, and ultimately ended up at Attrell’s full-time in January of 2023. He considers it an honor and a privilege to assist families in the Newberg community – a community that has been a part of his life since the day he was born.
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Tim Weaver Funeral Associate
Growing up in Omak, WA, Tim has been a Newberg-Dundee resident since 1972. Following graduation from George Fox University, he was a police officer/sergeant for the Newberg-Dundee Police Department for 33-years. Often recognized for service to the community and state, He has several commendations for outstanding service, including national awards as a Drug Recognition Expert and training in impaired driving enforcement and other human relations and law enforcement topics. Tim currently serves on several boards, including the Oregon Community Foundation and is a Dundee city councilor. He carries a compassion for others from his public service career to his work at Attrell’s, and considers this part of his own personal ministry. Tim is married to Pam, and their blended family has five grown children and six grandchildren.
