About Us

My career in funeral service began when I was fourteen years old. I began working for a family owned funeral home in Council Bluffs in the spring of 1992. Everyday after school and throughout the summer I would ride my bicycle to the funeral home. I would wash cars, care for the lawn and help with other duties. A couple of summers later, once I had a driver’s license, my role changed significantly. I began driving to the cemetery and helping on all of the services and during evening visitations. I became so passionate about funeral service that I found my early life revolved around working at the funeral home.

Life for me has always been about service to others. While attending college, the owners of the funeral home sold their ownership to a national firm and there was no room for me after this acquisition. Seeking service to others, I took a job with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer and that led to being promoted as a deputy sheriff. Eventually, I was hired by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. During my 10 year career, I served in the Division of Criminal Investigations and as a state trooper with the Iowa State Patrol.

I found my time serving in law enforcement personally rewarding, especially the helping others in my community, my passion for helping families with funeral service never was silenced. During my time with the Iowa State Patrol, I was able to complete my education as a funeral director and for a few years I worked two jobs. I worked as a trooper on the midnight shift and as funeral director/mortician during the day.

In August of 2011, my family and I opened Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home; this is an extension of my life in service to all of you.

I grew up on a family farming operation north of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Throughout college, I spent much of my summer and holiday breaks assisting Mike and the staff at the funeral home with various office tasks and evening visitations.

After graduating college in 2017 with degrees in Agricultural Science and Animal Science, I moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where I worked for an agricultural seed company in communications and visitor services. I returned to the funeral home full time in March of 2020.

I attended Des Moines Area Community College’s Mortuary Science Program from 2021–2023, earning an Advanced Standing Diploma in Mortuary Science. In 2026, I graduated from the National Funeral Directors Association’s National Emerging Leaders Program (NELP), an experience that allowed me to continue growing as a leader while connecting with funeral service professionals from across the country.

It is a privilege to serve families in the place where I was first inspired to pursue funeral service. I am grateful to be part of a team that is committed to providing compassion and care to every family we serve.

I was born in Onawa, Iowa, and spent much of my childhood moving throughout eastern Nebraska before my family settled in Missouri Valley in 2009. After graduating from Missouri Valley High School, I began my career as a 911 operator, serving the community for nearly ten years. In 2024, I joined Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home & Fur-Ever Friends Pet Crematory, where I now assist families in person during their time of need. My years of dispatching taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of calm communication — qualities I continue to bring to the families I serve every day.  

My name is Angie Cruz, and I was born and raised in Council Bluffs as a pastor’s kid. My dad has pastored in this community for more than 55 years. Needless to say, faith, serving others, and being part of this community have been woven into my life for as long as I can remember.

Music has always been a big part of my life, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as the praise and worship leader at my church for many years.

I’m grateful to now be part of the Hoy-Kilnoski team, where I have the opportunity to serve families during some of life’s most difficult moments. I love being part of a team that approaches that responsibility with genuine empathy, compassion, and excellence.

My favorite place to be is with my family. I also love gardening, decorating, making things beautiful, and creating special moments and memories out of the ordinary ones.