August 2019

Page A26 AUGUST 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A • Family Owned and Operated • 20+ Years Industry Experience • New Product Increases Settlements • No Contracts... Free Recycling Tote Cremation Metal Recycling 800-664-8365 cremation metal recycling - responsible recycling charitable foundation cmr@metrocast.net www.cremationmetalrecycling.com Funeral Supply Store 1-800-392-2936 • www.funeralsupplystore.com Hydraulic Embalming Table $2,995 00 Scissor Lift $5,395 FREE SHIPPING! Magnum Mortuary Cot $1,495 00 1,000 lb. Capacity FREE SHIPPING! Dressing Table $895 00 FREE SHIPPING! Elite Mortuary Cot $995 00 600 lb. Capacity FREE SHIPPING! Staff members from left: Dorothy Thuemmel, John Champagne, Karen Bouverette, Jack Gleason, Carole Henry, Jennifer McLaren, James Childs, Elmer Bussema, and Justin Stanton Café Area Panoramic view of the chapel and sitting area In October 1975, John Champagne took over the operation of Huron Me- morial Chapel in Elkton from Jim Col- gan. The firm, which had been in opera- tion under different names since the early 1900’s, would be renamed the Cham- pagne Funeral Chapel. After serving as a funeral home for 58 years, this building closed on December 31, 2018. In 1983, John acquired the old DeFord Hotel also known as the Crawford house, located on the top of the hill at the mouth of the Pigeon River. In 1984 Caseville’s first funeral home since the 1920’s began operation. In 1996 the property was sold to a developer who was not interested in the building. In May 1997 the building was loaded on wheels, all 150 tons of it, and moved to its present location. After 33 years as a funeral home, it closed in December 31, 2017 as part of the busi- ness merger. In 2004 James Childs bought the Ca- seville location and then bought the Elk- ton location in 2017 when Champagne retired. Childs purchased and closed the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon when its owner retired, converting the building into his home. The new funeral home is located in the downtown business district and features a single 2200 square foot chapel which can be split into two rooms, a large lob- by and lounge, a traditional casket show- room, conference room, offices, embalm- ing suite, walk-in cooler, and 3 car garage. The building was designed by Childs and features many innovative and modern de- sign features, technology upgrades, and modern energy efficiency. James gradu- ated from Wayne State University in De- troit with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science. He began working in funeral service in Marine City in 1996 and served his apprenticeship there. He spent five years living and working in sub- urban Detroit before moving to Caseville in 2004. The staff of Champagne Funeral Cha- pel are caring and experienced profession- als who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and tra- ditions. The business handles about 140 calls per year and is the largest funeral pro- vider in Huron County, serving the tip of Michigan’s Thumb. Champagne Funeral Chapel New Location Continued from Front Page