Our Staff

Elliott Grasse

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director

Elliott is a native of Sturgeon Bay, WI and raised on a dairy farm. He graduated from Sevastopol High School in 2000 and graduated from St. Norbert College with a B.A. in Business Administration in 2005. Previously to funeral service, Elliott was an operations manager for a school bus company. He graduated with honors from Milwaukee Area Technical College with a degree of Applied Science in Funeral Service in 2015. Elliott oversees all the operations and funeral services of the firm. Elliott and his wife Nina, met and were married in Wausau, where they had resided before moving to Pardeeville. He enjoys gardening, cutting firewood, and together with his wife they enjoy traveling and trips to Door County. He is an active member in the Pardeeville Lions Club. In January 2017, Elliott and Nina welcomed Easton, their first child.

Nina Grasse

Owner/ Office Manager

Nina is a native of Pardeeville and raised on a farm. She graduated from Montello High School in 1999 and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Master’s of Education. She was an elementary teacher for 12 years. Nina handles all the bookkeeping, printing, and other office duties of the firm. Nina has truly enjoyed being able to own the property her grandparents once had and living where she grew up. She enjoys gardening, sewing, quilting, running, and together with her husband they enjoy traveling and trips to Door County. She is an active member in the Pardeeville Lions Club, coordinates the annual Pardeeville 4th of July Parade, and plays in the Dual County Community Band. In January 2017, Nina and Elliott welcomed Easton, their first child.

Josiah Kath

Licensed Funeral Director Assistant

Josiah is a native of Pardeeville, WI and graduated from Pardeeville High School, class of 2005. Josiah recently completed course work to become a Certified Minister with the Assemblies of God and currently is the Youth Pastor at Family Life Center in Rio.  Josiah assists with administrative duties, funerals, visitations, and other aspects of the funeral business. Josiah and his wife Jamie, met at Pardeeville High School and have been together since 2005. They were married in Rio in November of 2012 where they currently reside. Together they have 3 wonderful children, Lily, Elijah and Kaleb. Josiah enjoys bowling, swimming, technology and spending time with his family. Josiah is active in the Rio community, volunteering with the school district, driving school bus, and is part of various community organizations.

Elizabeth Smith

Aftercare Coordinator/Funeral Assistant

Liz is a native of Marshalltown, Iowa and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 2001 and graduated in 2005 from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa where she studied local church ministries and counseling.  Liz and her husband Andy, recently completed 13 years of ministry as missionaries all around North America before settling in Montello in July 2018. Together they have four sweet boys; Judah, Asher, Levi, and Benjamin. Liz enjoys being outdoors with her family, traveling, and watching plays/musicals. Liz will serve families during and especially afterwards in coordinating aftercare services to our families we serve. 

Colin Rogers

Licensed Funeral Apprentice

Gale Neef

Funeral Assistant

Gale is a native of Pardeeville. He proudly served as a coreman in a U.S. Army mash unit. He and his wife Cheryl, along with their four kids, operated a family dairy operation until 1994. He then worked for Columbia County until retiring in 2013. Gale assists with funerals, visitations, and other aspects of the funeral business. He enjoys traveling with his family, gardening, collecting antiques, and serving for many of the local community events found in the Pardeeville area.

Brian Conner

Funeral Assistant

Brian is originally from Oregon, WI were he met and married his wife Sue. They moved to the Pardeeville area after he graduated from the U. W. Platteville with a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1985. For his first 20 years he taught third grade and coached for the Rio School District. He finished up his teaching and coaching career with the Portage Community School district in 2018. Brian assists with funerals, visitations, serving luncheons, and serving families in time of need.

Rick Houser

Funeral Assistant

Florence Sunde

Funeral Serving Assistant

Phyllis Baumgartner

Funeral Serving Assistant

Phyllis is a native of Columbus. She worked for U.W. Madison for 36 years. She enjoys traveling, bowling, going to plays, local kids events, and helping out whenever she can. Phyllis assists with serving funeral luncheons, visitations and serving families in time of need.

Karen Fleegal

Funeral Serving Assistant

Karen and her husband Ray are retired and live outside of Rio. They are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Doylestown. Karen and Ray have two married daughters, two grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. They enjoy following their grandchildren's sports activities. Karen assists with serving funeral luncheons, visitations and serving families in time of need.

Judy Skaar

Funeral Serving Assistant