Robert Marquardt is arguably the founding father of our funeral home even though the name changed long ago. Robert was born in 1875 in Pila, Germany (now Poland), the son of Johann and Caroline Beyer Marquardt. The family immigrated to the United States and settled in Oshkosh in the summer of 1882.
Robert worked as a carpenter as a young man, and by 1919 had establish an undertaking business known as Marquardt's Funeral Parlor, on Oregon Street, not far from the current location.
During the spring of 1900, he married Martha Barfknecht and the couple had two sons: Gilbert, who was born in 1901, and Leonard, who arrived in 1906. During the spring of 1910, Robert made the United States his permanent home, officially becoming a naturalized citizen. Robert ran the funeral home for many years, until his retirement, when his sons took over the business.
Marquardt's Funeral Parlor remained in operation until 1979, when it was sold to Ken Seefeld, who gave the funeral home its current moniker. In turn, his own son, Doug, succeeded him in operating the business and looking after local families.
Steve
and
Denise Kwiatkowski
purchased the funeral home in 2001and brought it to where it is today, with it's heritage charm and updated amenities.
Our
facility, located at 1025 Oregon Street, with its Mediterranean terracotta roof and arched entrances, was built in 1930 and is currently designated a historic landmark.