History

1124 Main Street, Kellnersville, WI 54215
920-732-3535 (T)
920-682-4363 (F)

1848 First settler to Kellnersville area 

Approx. 1850 Old Steve Reindl was listed as the coffin maker

• Old Steve Reindl 1798-1886
• Stephen Reindl (his son) 1824-1909---Around 73 years old when Frank possibly took over 

1890 Listed as first year in operation on KP’s note

Approx. 1897 Frank Pfeffer first undertaker 

• Frank (B: 1877) married Mary Novy (B: 1874) February 23, 1895

Approx. 1911 Joseph Wachal second undertaker

• Joseph (B: 1878) married Mary Krall (B: 12/2/1875) in 1909, they ran the farm a few years and then purchased a tavern, furniture, and funeral home business; 1921 Wisconsin Gazetteer lists business under furniture, retail, and undertaking 

June 8, 1912 Joseph passed away, his wife continues to run businesses with a partner

1913ish-1948 Husar and Wachal Funeral Parlor; Mrs. Mary Wachal and Mr. Emil Husar (B: 4/24/1889) ran funeral home, tavern, and furniture making businesses

1936 Mrs. Mary Wachal retired

1948 Emil Husar sold to Edward and Veronica Saur

1948-1990 Saur Funeral Home; Ran by Edward and Veronica Saur for 42 years

January 1,1990Glenn Pfeffer and Dave Reinbold purchased Saur Funeral Home, with Kevin Pfeffer as associate 

1994 Business changes name to Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Home 

1998 Reinbold & Pfeffer at 818 State Street, Manitowoc and 1124 Main Street, Kellnersville, merged with Jens Family Funeral Home and Crematory to create Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Homes

In 1902, Wencel C. Urbanek and Joe Wattawa founded the first funeral home in Manitowoc designed specifically for funeral service. Later in 1904, they founded Urbanek and Wattawa Furniture and Undertaking. Sixteen years later, in 1919, the company was comprised of Joe Wattawa, Arnold W. Schlei, and Charles A. Urbanek. The company experienced dissolution in 1926 where W. C. Urbanek purchased store interests and Joseph Wattawa purchased the undertaking business.  

In 1931, the Wattawa, Urbanek, and Schlei Funeral Home is on record under ownership of Joseph Wattawa, Charles Urbanek, and Arnold Schlei. In 1945, the business morphed into Urbanek and Schlei Funeral Home and later in 1955, the construction of the 9th Street Chapel was completed. Transition took place in 1973 with the formation of Urbanek and Schlei Inc. when Glenn Pfeffer and David Reinbold purchased the business. Urbanek and Schlei remained on staff, along with assistance from Ralph L. Heiss. The company featured new owner Glenn Pfeffer in a large scale newspaper ad in 1978. During these years the company was known as Urbanek & Schlei and Reinbold & Pfeffer, the latter taking the company name of Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Services in 1994.  

In 1998, Reinbold & Pfeffer merged with Jens Family Funeral Home and Crematory to become Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Services. In 2000, Faithful Friends Pet Cremation Service was added with the installation of a pet crematory within the Jens location on South 8th Street. In 2019, the company acquired new businesses and in turn, the parent company Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes was born.

1122 South 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI 
920-682-1568 (W)
920-682-4363 (F)

1955 Jens Family Funeral Home founded by J. R. Jens in a home built in 1874

1968 Facility expansion and remodel

1978 Facility expansion including additional chapel, crematorium installation, and removal of 3rd floor

• Mark Jens, son of J. R. and Alice, joins staff; made sketches of expansion while in high school for a class project 
• James Jost joins staff

1998 Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Homes established through merger of Jens Family Funeral Home and Crematory and Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Homes

J. R. Jens founded the Jens Family Funeral Home in 1955 in a historical home built in 1874. The facility was expanded and remodeled in 1968, and ten years later in 1978, an additional remodel and construction project took place, based on the design of J. R.’s son Mark Jens ,who joined the business this year as well. The expansion featured the removal of the 3rd floor, a newly constructed chapel with a stained-glass window designed by Alice Jens, and an installation of a crematorium, which was the first in the area.     

In 1998, Reinbold & Pfeffer merged with Jens Family Funeral Homes to become Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Homes. In 2000, Faithful Friends Pet Cremation Service was added with the installation of a pet crematory within the Jens location on South 8th Street. In 2019, the company acquired new businesses and in turn, the parent company Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes was born.

1122 South 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-769-0500 (T)
1-888-683-PETS (7387)
920-682-4363

2000 Added to Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Homes with installation of pet crematory at South 8th Street location

The business designed to aid pet owners by offering a dignified, end of life service for their pet. It was created in 2000 when a pet crematorium was added to the original Jens facility on South 8th Street in Manitowoc. 

1420 22nd Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241
920-793-1396 (T)
920-793-1397x)

1901 Adam Klein founded Klein’s Furniture & Undertaking on West Park Street

1929 Adam Klein’s son, Edwin Klein, moved to Two Rivers and established Klein’s Funeral Service

1931 Emil Stangel joined the firm; name changed to Klein & Stangel Funeral Home

1938 Present building constructed

1950 Wayne Sanville, Edwin Klein’s nephew, began employment at the funeral home

1957 Jack Broderick joined the company

1964 Addition to building completed

1965 Emil Stangel passes

1987 Edwin Klein passes

1992 Steven Pfeffer and Clyde “Skip” Pfeffer, owners of Pfeffer Funeral Home, purchase Klein & Stangel Funeral Home

1995 Parking lot and Veteran’s Monument added

January 25, 2019 Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer purchase Pfeffer Funeral Home establishments including Klein & Stangel Funeral Home and Christian & Deja Funeral Home

January 25, 2019 Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes established

Adam Klein founded Klein’s Furniture & Undertaking on West Park Street in 1901. Years later in 1929, Adam’s son, Edwin Klein, moved back to Two Rivers and established Klein’s Funeral Service. When Emil Stangel joined the firm in 1931, the company name changed to Klein & Stangel Funeral Home. The present location on 22nd Street was erected in 1938. Edwin Klein’s nephew began employment with the firm in 1950 and later in 1957, Jack Broderick joined the staff. To meet the needs of the community, an addition was constructed in 1964 and later in 1995 expanded parking availability and a Veteran’s monument were added. In 1992, Steven Pfeffer and Clyde “Skip” Pfeffer, owners of Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc, purchased Klein & Stangel Funeral Home. On January 25, 2019, Pfeffer Funeral Home, including the Klein & Stangel location, was purchased by Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Homes, forming the establishment of Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes. 

202 Liberty Street, Valders, WI 54245
920-775-4433 (T)
920-775-3973 (Fax)

1897 Otto Berge began construction of Valders Hotel (now the Willows), the post office, and general store

1898 Otto Berge and Knute/Ken Sebo founded first undertaking parlor 

• Otto Berge bought out Mr. Sebo at some point

1925 Guilford Berge joins his father Otto; served as funeral director for 35 years

Approx. 1934Guilford Berge purchases business from his father Otto

Approx. 1936Guilford’s nephew Raymond Christianson joins funeral business

1974 Raymond Christianson bought Berge Funeral Home and formed a partnership with Kenneth Deja, establishing Christianson & Deja Funeral Home

1997 Steven Pfeffer and Clyde “Skip” Pfeffer, owners of Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc and Klein & Stangel Funeral Home in Two Rivers, whom are also cousins, purchase Christianson & Deja Funeral Home

January 25,2019 Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer purchase Pfeffer Funeral Home establishments including Klein& Stangel Funeral Home and Christianson & Deja Funeral Home

January 25, 2019 Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes established

The story of Christianson & Deja dates back to 1897 when Otto Berge began construction of the Valders Hotel (now the Willows), the post office, and general store. The following year, in 1898, he founded the first undertaking parlor with Knute (Ken) Sebo. Otto bought out Knute years later and in 1925 Otto’s son Guilford Berge joined his father and served as a funeral director for 35 years. Guilford purchased the business from his dad in 1934 and two years later in 1936, Guilford’s nephew Raymond Christianson joined the funeral business. Decades later Raymond Christianson bought Berge Funeral Home and formed a partnership with Kenneth Deja, establishing Christianson & Deja Funeral Home. In 1997, Steven Pfeffer and Clyde “Skip” Pfeffer, owners of Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc, purchased Klein & Stangel Funeral Home. On January 25, 2019, Pfeffer Funeral Home, including the Christianson & Deja location, was purchased by Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Homes, forming the establishment of Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes.

928 South 14th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-684-4642 (T)
920-684-1810 (Fax)

1921 Pfeffer Funeral Home established by Leonard T Pfeffer and his wife Lucy at 915 Washington Street, Manitowoc, WI, in conjunction with J. Pfeffer & Sons Furniture Store 

1932 Construction completed at 928 South 14th Street, present day location

1950s Leonard and Lucy’s three sons join the business: Clyde W. Pfeffer, Leonard C. Pfeffer, and Roy T. Pfeffer

1952 Leonard Pfeffer passes

1970s Third generation of Pfeffer’s join the business: Steven L. Pfeffer, son of Leonard C. and Clyde D. “Skip” Pfeffer, son of Clyde W. 

1974 Lucy Pfeffer passes

2009 All-Care Cremation Center constructed

January 25, 2019 Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Funeral Homes purchase Pfeffer Funeral Home and their establishments Klein & Stangel Funeral Home and Christianson & Deja Funeral Home

January 25, 2019 Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes established 

Leonard T. Pfeffer, and his wife Lucy, established Pfeffer Funeral Home in 1921 at 915 Washington Street in Manitowoc in conjunction with J. Pfeffer & Sons Furniture Store. Leonard was a licensed embalmer and funeral director and Lucy became one of the first female funeral directors in the state. As the city grew, a new location was constructed at 928 South 14th Street which was completed in 1932 and serves as the present day location. The family business expanded in the 1950s with the inclusion of three of Leonard and Lucy’s children: Clyde W. Pfeffer, Leonard C. Pfeffer, and Roy T. Pfeffer. A third generation of Pfeffer’s joined the business in the 1970s: Steven L. Pfeffer, son of Leonard C., and Clyde D. “Skip” Pfeffer, son of Clyde W. In 2009, All-Care Crematory and Reception Center was constructed across the street to serve families with cremation and luncheon services. On January 25, 2019, Pfeffer Funeral Home, including the Christianson & Deja, Klein & Stangel, and All-Care Crematory and Reception Center locations, was purchased by Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Homes, forming the establishment of Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes.

123 South Street
Plymouth, WI 53073
920-549-5455 (T) 

1910 George Wittkopp established funeral home, along with furniture and pianos

1920s The present location at 123 South Street was constructed for the sole purpose of funeral business; George’s sons Warren and John join the business. 

1957 Geoge Wittkopp passes; John leaves the business in the upcoming years

Approx. 1965 Warren Wittkopp Jr. joins his dad at the business after completing mortuary school in Cincinnati; funeral home undergoes an expansion and chapel addition 

1991 Warren Wittkopp Senior passes and his son continues to run the business until his retirement in 2010

2010 An outside company runs Wittkopp Funeral Homes

2016 Margart Wittkopp purchased Wittkopp Funeral Home  

January 1, 2020 Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes purchased Wittkopp Funeral Home. 

George Wittkopp founded Wittkopp Funeral Home in 1910 along with a furniture and piano manufacturing business. A facility dedicated to the funeral business was built in the late 1920s and still stands at the present location. George’s sons Warren and John joined him in the business around 1940. George passed away in 1957 and John left to pursue other interests. Warren’s son, Warren Jr. joined his father after completing mortuary school sometime around 1965. Around this same time an expansion and an additional chapel were built. After Warren Sr.’s passing in 1991, his son ran the business until his retirement in 2010. An outside company ran Wittkopp Funeral Home for approximately six years until Margaret Wittkopp regained the family establishment in 2016. Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes purchased Wittkopp Funeral Home in January 2020.