Hafemeister’s

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Hafemeister’s

Furniture & Funeral

611 East Main Street

Kohls and Knaack Funeral Home became the Hafemeister Funeral Home

1922

Hafemeister Funeral Home was established in 1922 by Henry Hafemeister. In the beginning, and until 1999, the funeral home was run in conjunction with a furniture store. Raymond Dobbratz and Roland Harder purchased the business from the Hafemeister family. Roland passed away in 1974 leaving Ray as the sole owner. He sold the business to the Koepsell family in 1999. Richard Nienow, a funeral director with the firm for over 23 years, purchased the business with his wife Ann in 2003.

1947

Raymond C. Dobbratz had been affiliated with Hafemeister Funeral Home from 1947 until he sold the business in 1999 to the Koepsell family which operated funeral homes in Beaver Dam and Mayville. The business was later sold to longtime employee Richard Nienow.

Dobbratz completed mortuary school and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1950.

1957

Ad, 1957 City Dir, Henry Hafemeister

1966

When Henry Hafemeister died in 1966, Dobbratz and the late Roland Harder became partners. Harder died in 1974 and Dobbratz and his wife, Marie, became sole owners of the business until it was sold [1999].

1974

Raymond C. Dobbratz and his wife Marie owned and operated Hafemeister Funeral Home from 1974 to 1999.

1999

10 14 The Hafemeister Funeral Home, one of Watertown's well known businesses, has been sold by Ray and Marie Dobbratz to the Koepsell family which operates funeral homes in Beaver Dam and Mayville. The Koepsell family said the funeral home will be staffed by Richard Nienow of Watertown, who has been associated with Hafemeister for over 20 years, and Maurice Sefton, a Watertown resident who also has 20 years of funeral directing business. WDT

2000

10 20 A longtime area business couple will be honored by the Watertown Elks Lodge for their donation to the lodge which will help the citizens of Watertown for many years to come. Ray and Marie Dobbratz have donated all of their hospital and rehabilitation equipment to the lodge. While operating Hafemeister Funeral Home and Furniture Store, the Dobbratzes provided this equipment free of charge to people in need. That tradition will continue under the leadership of the Elks Lodge. The lodge will honor the Dobbratzes for this donation to the lodge and other civic work they have done. They will be the special guests of honor at the lodge’s Harvest Ball on Oct. 28. The Harvest Ball will also be the kickoff for the lodge’s third phase of remodeling. WDT

2001

02 11 The Watertown Historic Preservation Commission Tuesday gave the green light to Hafemeister Funeral Home's more than $500,000 addition and renovation plan. The commission gave its nod by accepting a certificate of appropriateness for plans by the Koepsell family-owned funeral home at 611 E. Main St. But the approval is subject to four conditions. Building owners in the city's historic district need the commission's OK before they complete external changes to their properties such as those to awnings, windows and the general facade. The Hafemeister project is being done so the entire building is renovated “to meet our needs as a funeral home,” said Rich Nienow, funeral home director and associate. He said the project is under way and will take three months to complete. WDT

12 13 A grand opening to celebrate the renovation of Hafemeister Funeral Home of Watertown will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at noon with Lorna Harder, the only remaining descendant of the original Hafemeister family, present to cut the ribbon along with funeral directors Richard Nienow, Maurice Sefton and Russ Koepsell. The restored 100-year-old buildings retain the funeral home as part of Watertown’s downtown business section and allows for continued growth of the business. Both floors of the funeral home and that of the former Hafemeister Furniture store are now used for “state-of-the-art” facilities for the Hafemeister funeral business. The renovation project has resulted in approximately 12,000 square feet of space being made available for the business. WDT

In 2001, the building underwent a major renovation, including an addition. Prior to the renovation, portions of the funeral home were not accessible to many of our physically challenged clientele. Space for simultaneous visitations and casket display was not adequate, and the facility did not meet standards for privacy and comfort. The original funeral home operated in approximately 12,300 sq. ft. The building was once used as a furniture store and funeral home but since the renovation, it is all used as funeral home. This was expanded to over 26,000 sq. ft. Some of the improvements include a second chapel, a new entrance to the funeral home, a business office, a 2+car garage, and a unisex, accessible restroom in addition to accessible separate men’s and ladies restrooms. Includes a lounge area equipped with kitchen facilities to be used during visitations and a play area for children. A new elevator was added to gain access to a new casket selection room located on the second floor, along with a new preparation room that meets our needs and exceeds state regulations. The building also features a sound system to be used during visitations and funeral services. A second lounge located on the second floor adjacent to the selection room can be used for finalizing funeral arrangements. Facility is totally handicapped accessible. Parking lot will accommodate thirty vehicles plus two handicapped stalls, and a large amount of convenient street parking is available in the area.

2003

Richard Nienow, a funeral director with the firm for over 23 years, purchased the business with his wife Ann in 2003.

2010

Cross References:

Max L. Noffz employed at Kohls and Knaack Funeral Home, became Hafemeister Funeral Home