Funeral practices in Minnesota, and the businesses involved, have changed much over the years of Carver County’s existence. From the days of furniture and undertaker shops to better regulated funerary practices, the history is long and ever-changing.
In early days, before modern methods of verifying death, many feared being buried alive. Funeral homes contained a “waiting mortuary” (although these were more common in Germany than America). This room held the dead for a number of days, proving they were dead and not merely asleep or unconscious. Also in early Carver County, many of the towns and communities had their own funeral homes, as travel between communities was less easy. Wakes were held in the home, before the dead were transported in wake baskets to the funeral parlor, church, or cemetery.
One of the more significant changes has been in the terminology used for this profession. While many still use these titles interchangeably, they actually describe very different jobs. An embalmer is someone who has studied the science of preserving humans with chemicals to forestall decomposition. A funeral director is a licensed embalmer, but adds much more to their role, such as supervising or preparing the dead for burial, directing or arranging funerals, and owning or operating the funeral home. An undertaker is one whose job is to arrange, manage and conduct funerals. A mortician is simply another name for an undertaker.
In early Carver County, most businesses were never simply a funeral home. Those in the funeral business operated joint furniture and undertaker shops, selling caskets along with household furniture, mattresses, wagons, baby carriages and other similar combinations. Chaska was home to the Burkhart Bros, opened in the 1880s. They were sellers of carpets, wool/hair/husk mattresses, feathers, baby carriages, coffins and hearses. Lambert Weller also opened in the late 1880s, a dealer in furniture parlor sets, bedroom sets, baby carriages and undertaker’s wares, and also a contractor and builder.
Cologne was home to Peter Jorissen’s business beginning in 1871. He advertised “furniture of all kinds”, including coffins, trimming and a fine line of baby carriage. His undertaking services were advertised as “1st class services at cheapest rates at all times”. His business was sold in 1923, though it remained as a furniture and undertaker store.
The village of Norwood was once home to H.G. Lenzen, Furniture Dealer and Undertaker, who opened shop in 1904. A second opened in 1948, originally run by Raymond Block and his wife. This business remained in operation with various owners through the 1970s. Watertown was home to the earliest furniture and undertaker business in the county, owned by Edidius Moers and opened in 1864. A second store was opened by the Campbell Bros. before the partnership went south and was sold to the Carlson Bros. in 1892.
The Village of Young America was home to Powers’ Furniture and Mortuary, though the dates of operation for this business were unable to be found. Vitense Furniture and Mortuary opened in the old Powers store in 1936 and stayed open for 10 years, before being turned into a restaurant.
There does not seem to be a history of undertaking businesses in Chanhassen, New Germany, or Mayer, although there are cemeteries associated with the local churches. Peter Feyereisen opened a marble yard in Chanhassen for tombstones in 1882.
In the 21st century, Carver County is home to four modern funeral homes. Bertas Funeral Home in Chaska, the Hantge-McBride Funeral Chapel in NYA, Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia, and the Iten Funeral Home in Watertown. The businesses in NYA and Watertown are one of several owned by each different company. No longer in the furniture, carpentry, upholstery and mattress businesses, these funeral homes are dedicated to a single trade.
Barac, Lavonne. Chaska:A Minnesota River City, Volume 1 and 2. St. Paul, MN: Carver County Public Library, 1989.
Hoisington, Daniel John. Chanhassen: A Centennial History. Chanhassen, MN: The Press, Banta Corporation, July 1996.
Mayer Booster Club. History of Helvetia-Mayer and Community. Lester Prairie, MN: Lester Prairie News, 1936.
Norwood Book Committee. Norwood Centennial, 1872-1972. Glencoe, MN: Kopy Kat Printing, 1972.
Olson, Steve. Cologne: The First 100 years. Cologne, MN: 1981.
Tremblay, Ruth and Lois Schulstad. Images of America: Carver County. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2011.
Warner, George E. and Charles M. Foote. History of the Minnesota Valley: Carver County. Reprint. Carver County Historical Society, 1986. Originally published in George E. Warner and Charles M. Foote, History of the Minnesota Valley, Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1882.
Watertown Centennial: 1856 . . .1956. Watertown, MN: Watertown Activities, Inc., 1956.
