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/Agent for Burial Agreements

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, pre-planning, 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.

Shane Hinton

Licensed Apprentice Funeral Director

Shane grew up in the small town of Ripon (known as the birthplace of the Republican Party). At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army where he proudly served for 21 years. He currently serves as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Before joining the Grasse Funeral Service family to become a Licensed Funeral Director, he worked for 14 years for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Shane assists families in all aspects of funeral service. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and time around a firepit. 

Justin Christophersen

Funeral Director Assistant/Crematory Technician

Colin Rogers

Licensed Funeral Director Assistant

Colin and his wife Jen moved to Pardeeville in 2015. In addition to assisting families in the time of need, Colin is a surgical technician for Divine Savior Hospital in Portage. With his family, he enjoys hunting, camping, traveling, and kayaking.  Colin is an avid antique collector and creating unique projects with them.  Colin assists families in all aspects of funeral service.

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. 

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. Gale assists with funerals, visitations, serving luncheons, and serving families in time of need.

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.

Bill Runke

Funeral Assistant

Bill recently retired from full-time ministry. He and his wife Lori reside in Beaver Dam.  Bill assists with funerals, visitations, serving luncheons, and serving families in time of need.

Florence Sunde

Funeral Serving Assistant

Florence is lifelong resident of Rio. She is an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She enjoys volunteering, and traveling. Florence assists with serving luncheons, visitations, and serving families in time of need.

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

Judy and her husband Jerry have been in Pardeeville for 36 years. Judy is a retired home economics teacher from Pardeeville Schools. Judy and her husband have been married for 57 years and have 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Judy loves to volunteer, especially at the Columbia Healthcare Center where Jerry now resides. She also loves needlework and baking. Judy assists with serving funeral luncheons, visitations and serving families in time of need.

Sue Brusveen

Funeral Serving Assistant

Sue recently retired from nursing after 45 years. Sue and her husband Ron have four children and have blessed with 9 amazing grand children. Their greatest hobby is spending time with the family. She also enjoys working on their small hobby farm  with a garden that keeps them busy, especially Ron. Sue is looking forward to being of service to families in need in the Pardeeville and Rio communities.  Sue assists with serving funeral luncheons, visitations and serving families in time of need.