About Us

Our Beginnings

In 1910, Andrew Kapfer entered into partnership with Frank Zwaschka and they purchased the furniture and undertaking business conducted by H.P. Bohn. They also soon added an ambulance service which was a valuable asset to them in carrying on their enterprise. The business was located in the former Wisconsin House Building on Main Street in Barton.

Andrew Kapfer had previously managed a hotel and saloon, been a rural mail carrier and postmaster, sold insurance, and was an agent for the Victor Phonograph Company.

Frank Zwaschka previously operated a furniture and undertaking business in Kewaskum and before joining Andrew Kapfer he sold out his interests in Kewaskum to Edward Miller (this was the founding of Miller Funiture Store and Funeral Home both of which still operate in Kewaskum). In 1918, Frank Zwaschka established another undertaking establishment in Milwaukee which still exists today as Zwaska Funeral Home in Brown Deer.

In this section

Kapfer and Gehl Funeral Home

After Frank Zwaschka left for Milwaukee, the funeral home and furniture store were owned by Andrew Kapfer alone, and then in partnership with Frank Gehl. Later, Frank Gehl owned the business alone after Andrew Kapfer retired.

Funeral Home in Barton

The original funeral home and furniture store was located in the former Wisconsin House building on Main Street in Barton, which is now Barton Avenue in West Bend. The building is now the home of Wisconsin House Woodworks.

Andrew Kapfer (left) and Frank Gehl (right)

Kapfer Furniture Store and Funeral Home in Barton (circa 1915)

Kapfer and Gehl Build New Funeral Home

In 1941 construction began on a new Kapfer and Gehl Funeral Home at 127 S. Sixth Avenue in West Bend. An open house for the new funeral home was held on May 16 and 17, 1942 and the local newspaper reported that 1800 people attended the event. The paper also noted "The new funeral home is under the management of Frank Gehl, junior member; the funeral home in Barton will continue under the direction of Andrew Kapfer, senior member, the same as in the past. This gives Kapfer and Gehl two modern funeral homes, offering every desirable facility for service to the living in cases of bereavement through death."

The building on Sixth Avenue is now the office of Port Abstract and Title.

Kapfer and Gehl Funeral Home: Sixth Ave. West Bend

Ole Myrhum

After serving in World War II, Ole Myrhum, a native of LaCrosse, became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1949. He worked at establishments in Green Bay and Milwaukee before coming to West Bend in 1951 to work for Frank Gehl at Kapfer and Gehl Funeral Home.

Harvey Techtman

Harvey Techtman, a native of West Bend, became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1938. He owned and operated a funeral home in Kewaskum from 1939 until 1946 when he purchased a business in Hilbert. In 1956, he came back to West Bend to begin a partnership with Ole Myrhum.

Ole Myrhum

Harvey Techtman

Techtman - Myrhum Funeral Home

In 1956, Harvey Techtman and Ole Myrhum purchased the Kapfer and Gehl Funeral Home and Funiture Store from Frank Gehl, founding Techtman - Myrhum Funeral Home and Furniture Store. They also operated a 24-hour ambulance service.

In 1966, they opened a new facility for Techtman - Myrhum Funeral Home at our current location on Washington Street in West Bend.

After Harvey Techtman's retirement, Ole Myrhum continued to operate the funeral home as Myrhum Funeral Home, with his son, Charles Myrhum, who joined the firm in 1975.

Today

Today, Myrhum - Patten Funeral and Cremation Service is owned and operated by Charles Myrhum and Robert Patten. Charles' son, Matthew, has also joined the firm as a third generation funeral director.

In 2001, the West Bend facility was remodeled, including the addition of an on-site crematory.

In 2012, the Cottrill Funeral Home in Mayville was purchased to extend our services to Dodge County.

In 2014, both the Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum and the Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira were purchased to further serve families in north Washington and Dodge Counties.

In 2018, Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service entered into a partnership with Bob Twohig, proprietor of Twohig Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, to help serve the needs of Fond du Lac County.