Helke's provides outstanding professional service and compassionate support. Recently my family…read morehad first-hand experience with my Dad's passing. John DeLaporte met with us even before we could wonder what should be done. He gently listened and walked us through each step of the process. The staff accommodated all of our requests from piping in music Pop loved - to designating a special area for the great-grandkids. Even weeks after, their friendly helpfulness and patience has changed my views (in a positive way) of walking into a funeral home. They really care...

From the owner: The Helke tradition of funeral service began in 1871, when the Helke family emigrated from Germany…read moreto Wausau. August Helke and his son, Charles, made furniture, bar and store fixtures, as well as church cabinets. They started Helke Furniture Company, located at 319 Fourth Street, Wausau, in 1874. Since coffins differed little from fine upholstered furniture, the two craftsmen naturally evolved into the funeral business. Charles was among the first licensed embalmers in the Wisconsin. In 1939, Charles and his son Carl built Wausau's first funeral home located at 413 Jefferson Street. The founder's grandsons, Charles and Richard, were part of the business by 1962, when Helke's built a second funeral home on Wausau's expanding west side, at 302 Spruce Street. This remains the current site of Helke Funeral Home and Cremation Services. We are the oldest continually operated business in Marathon County.