EMIL O. KRUEGER
1886-1933

The first steps in the funeral profession taken by Kevin & Karri's family started back in 1907, when their great-grandfather, Emil O. Krueger, became a licensed funeral director. He first opened a funeral home in Merrill, Wisconsin in 1914. He was assisted by his brother, Anton J. Krueger, who was licensed as a funeral director in 1920.

Later, the second generation of the family took over when their great-uncle, Norbert E. Krueger operated the family business, he was licensed as a funeral director in 1937.

The third generation of family funeral service started in 1970 in Tomahawk, when Kevin & Karri's Father, Jim became a licensed funeral director. Jim retired in 2010 after serving the families of Tomahawk for over 40 years.

The fourth generation of Krueger family service started over 20 years ago, back in 1992, in Tomahawk, when Kevin J. Krueger became a licensed funeral director.

Our family roots in the funeral profession serving Tomahawk date back over 120 years ago starting in 1890.



JACOB NICK, SR.
1860-1937

Kevin's wife; Melinda Nick-Krueger, comes from a family of funeral professionals too. Her great-grandfather, Jacob Nick, Sr., opened his first funeral business in Tomahawk on Wisconsin Avenue in 1890. Eventually his sons, J.J., William, George and Ben followed him into the family business. Later grandsons, William "Billy Frank", Robert, John "Bud", Duane "Bus", Thomas, and Ted followed in Jacob Sr.'s legacy. Nick & Sons Funeral Home, Casket Factory, Furniture Store and the William Nick Funeral Home served Tomahawk for 80 years, and three generations.




      JJ Nick         William Nick          Ben Nick          George Nick



KEVIN J. KRUEGER
Licensed Funeral Director/Owner
kevin@generationsfuneral.com

Kevin attended Mortuary Science School in Milwaukee, and upon graduation, he became a licensed funeral director in 1992. Kevin expanded his experience by working for a large funeral firm in Milwaukee, which was the same firm his father, Jim, had worked at 20 years earlier. Kevin also practiced at a funeral home in Green Bay for a few years before moving back to Tomahawk to work for his dad. He has been serving the Tomahawk area for over 20 years.

Kevin is married to Melinda (Nick) Krueger and she, too, comes from a family background involving funeral service in Tomahawk . The Nick's were a pioneer family of Tomahawk. They owned and operated Nick & Sons Funeral Home, William Nick Funeral Home, Nick & Sons Casket Factory and Nick & Sons Furniture Store, all of Tomahawk, until the retirement of Melinda's father, Tom Nick, and her uncle, Ted Nick. Melinda assists Kevin and Karri at the funeral home, from her baking to creating grief baskets for families.

Kevin and Melinda have three sons, Kevin's Step-Son, Zach Nick is a graduate of Fox Valley Technical Institute, and is currently employed by his Dad, at Schoone Construction in Tomahawk. Melinda & Kevin's twin boys, Klayton Emil and Kollin James, attend the Tomahawk Middle School.

Kevin, Melinda and their Sons are lifelong members of St. Mary's Catholic Church where Kevin serves as vice president of the Pastoral Council. He is a member of St. Mary's School Endowment Committee, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is also a 3rd generation member of the Krueger family to work as a firefighter with the Tomahawk Volunteer Fire Department where he serves as a Lieutenant and is co-chairman of the nationally known, Tomahawk Fire and Rescue School.



KARRI (KRUEGER) ERNST
Business Manager/Owner
Apprentice Funeral Director
karri@generationsfuneral.com

Karri is a licensed life insurance agent and a certified funeral pre-planner. She is married to Darrin Ernst. Darrin has been employed at Harley-Davidson for over 20 years. Karri and Darrin have two daughters, Baylee (13) and Morgan (10) who both attend the Tomahawk School District. Karri brings years of office experience to the family funeral home and serves as the business manager of Generations. Karri is a graduate of Tomahawk High School and a graduate of the Madison Business College in Madison. She took employment at the Insurance Connection in Madison and then, making her way closer to Tomahawk, accepted work at Employer's Insurance Company of Wausau, Church Mutual Insurance of Merrill, and, for the past 12 years, was employed as an administrative assistant at the Tomahawk High School. Karri and her family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Tomahawk where both she and Darrin are active in various church groups and their children's activities in the community.



GRIEF SUPPORT DEPARTMENT

KAREN JURGENS
Bereavment Support Provider
info@generationsfuneral.com

Karen (Martin) Jurgens has spent most of her life in northern Wisconsin, and grew up in the Tripoli area. She is married to Lawrence, a retired UPS driver of 33 years, and a mother of five adult children and one grandson. Karen has a rich history in helping others. In 1985 she was hired by Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, as their Sexual Assault Coordinator. She also volunteered with Dr.Kate-Lakeland Hospice and became a Grief Support Group facilitator through their program. Karen has done Grief Support Groups in Tomahawk. Karen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, complimented by Art Therapy, Communication and Psychology. For over 25 years, she has been an Associate of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Tomahawk Cluster. Karen also taught Catholic Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes. As part of her Associate Ministry, she facilitates Bereavement Peer Support Group and is also available to lead the Rosary Service when requested. Karen and her family have been members of St. Mary’s Parish from 1963.

Jack L. Schatzke
Men’s Bereavement
Support Co-Facilitator

Jack served in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. He moved to the Tomahawk area in 1976 from Madison. Jack has a Daughter, Tanya. He was employed by the State of Wisconsin DNR as a Maintenance Mechanic and Forestry Tech. Adv. He retired from the DNR in 2009. Jack’s wife, Joyce passed away in 2011, they had been married for 26 years. In the year since Joyce passed away, he has done volunteer work at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Never Forgotten Honor Flights, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Jack enjoys restoring antique tractors, tractor shows and tractor rides.

                                                

Tom Jones
Funeral Home Assistant

Tom is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin and has lived in Tomahawk since 1984. He recently retired after a 33-year career as a State Trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol. During this time, he also served 15 years as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Lincoln County Ambulance Service. Tom also served for 13 years as a First Responder on the Town of Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department. Tom married Cheryl (Koehler) Jones in 1986. Cheryl is a Registered Nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk. Tom and Cheryl have 2 Daughters, Anne, a student at UW-LaCrosse and Alyson, a senior at Tomahawk High School. The Jones are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rhinelander where Tom is a member of the Stake High Counciland Cheryl serves as a Seminary Teacher.




Thomas "Tim" Galloy
Funeral Home Assistant

Tim was born in Rib Lake, Wisconsin, to Francis and Irene Galloy. Tim's father, Francis worked as a Funeral Director in Illinois and owned a grave monument company in Madison. This marks Tim as the second generation in the Galloy family to work in the funeral business. Tim spent his early childhood in the Rib Lake area. Following moves to Portage, WI, and Madison, WI, the family settled in Hazel Crest, Illinois. He finished grade school at St. Joseph's and graduated from Marian Catholic High School. Tim met his wife Kathy in Hazel Crest. He attended Washburne Trade School as part of his Plumbing Apprenticeship. Their three children, Thomas, David and Jon were born in Hazel Crest. Tim served on the Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department where he attained the rank of Captain and was in one of the first nationally-registered classes of Emergency Medical Technicians. The family relocated to Tomahawk in 1976, where Tim was employed as a Master Plumber at Arnott Plumbing for 33 years, retiring in 2009.
        

   

Wesley "Wes" Brandt
Funeral Home Assistant

Wes was born in northern Indiana, and graduated from Chesterton High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps. In 1961 he married Jacquelyn "Jackie" Baltich. Wes was enrolled at Commonwealth College of Houston, TX for Mortuary Science. Wes worked for Sam H. Green Funeral Home, before moving back to Indiana. Wes is also a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He coached little league baseball, and was VP and board member of Chesterton Chamber of Commerce. Wes served on the Chesterton Volunteer Fire Department, as did is Father. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge #379 and a 32 degree Mason of Scottish Rites. He retired in 1999 after 42 years in the home center, lumber and construction management field. Wes and Jackie have three children, Wesley, Jr. of Florida, Jeff of Oregon, and Heidi of Indiana. Wes and Jackie have lived in Tomahawk since 1985, and are both members of United Methodist Church in Spirit, WI.