Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
History
Home›History›Undertaking a legacy: Rembs Funeral Home’s 120-year history

Undertaking a legacy: Rembs Funeral Home’s 120-year history

By Hub City Times
September 17, 2017
866
0
Share:
Jacob Sturm and Louis Rembs began their partnership in the late 1800s when they purchased the building now located at 301 S. Central Ave.
Jacob Sturm and Louis Rembs began their partnership in the late 1800s when they purchased the building now located at 301 S. Central Ave. (Photo courtesy of the North Wood County Historical Society)

By Kris Leonhardt

Editor

In 1897 Jacob Sturm and Louis Rembs purchased the Valentine Weber furniture store on the corner of what are now Third Street and Central Avenue.

Naming their business Rembs & Sturm, they carried a full furniture line and provided undertaking and embalming services — a strange combination for sure but not when you consider that coffins in those days were pine boxes.

While Sturm took charge of the new enterprise, Rembs continued to operate an existing store he owned.

Two years later, Rembs and Sturm purchased a second-hand furniture store belonging to J.W. Vaughn and moved the stock to Rembs’ store.

The following year Rembs and Sturm officially discontinued their partnership. While advertising at that time gave the impression that the dissolution of the business was unplanned, it may have been a sales tactic after stock had been doubled, which called for savings to the customers to unload the large supply of product.

Rembs and Sturm, however, stayed connected through other business dealings and surely maintained a relationship.

From the time that Rembs purchased Sturm’s interest in Rembs & Sturm for a sum of $2,625, the enterprise became known as Louis Rembs – Furniture Dealer, Undertaking, and Embalming. That same year, the second-hand furniture store was sold to Ferd. Braem.

Rembs continued a successful business with his family at his side. In 1916 Rembs’ son John, who had been assisting in the business, obtained his license as an embalmer. It was believed at the time that John was the youngest licensed embalmer in the country at the age of 21.

In the early 1920s, the Rembs extended their business interest to California. Operating a large funeral home known as the McDermitt Funeral Chapel in Santa Barbara, California, they engaged the help of former Marshfield resident Martin Clune to oversee the operations.

Louis had plans of relocating to Santa Barbara. However, in 1925 he sold the California business to Clune. In July of that same year, an earthquake hit California, and the funeral home experienced nearly $10,000 of damage. Rembs traveled to assess the damage, which was mostly to the exterior of the building.

The funeral home would be veneered in a new, Spanish-style design.

Next week: The home on Fourth Street

TagsFeaturedhistoryJacob SturmJohn RembsLouis Rembsmarshfield historyMartin CluneRembs Funeral Home
Previous Article

Auburndale girls, Marshfield boys win divisional team ...

Next Article

Photo gallery: Twenty-fifth annual Maple Fall Fest

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • John Kneer of Rettler Corporation presents to the Marshfield School District’s Facilities, Safety, & Transportation Committee meeting Jan. 5.
    Local

    District considers options for athletic facilities improvements

    January 20, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield School Board Education Office
    Education

    School district adds new positions

    July 14, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Mid-State Technical College
    Education

    Mid-State presentation shares Common Core math insights

    October 14, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Opinion

    It’s a small world: A chance encounter 68 years in the making

    January 24, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield School Board Education Office
    Local

    School board approves wage increase for professional staff

    June 16, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield School Board candidate Dan Wald
    Opinion

    Letter to the editor: Reader endorses Dan Wald for school board

    February 14, 2016
    By Hub City Times

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • April 18, 2021

    Work on South Central Avenue to begin April 19

  • April 16, 2021

    Video: April 15 Post Council Press Conference

  • April 15, 2021

    Marshfield School District updates

  • April 14, 2021

    Marshfield council seeks legal advice on group complaint

  • April 14, 2021

    PFC discusses process for new police chief; Zeps named acting chief

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×