Full History

In 1884, partners Frank Ritter and Fred Deutsch founded “Ritter & Deutsch,” manufacturing furniture and fixtures, operating a retail furniture store on Wausau’s Main Street, and developing an undertaking and funeral direction business. Their manufacturing business ended in 1890 and the business was incorporated as Ritter & Deutsch Funeral Directors in 1909. Robert Brainard joined the firm in 1951. In 1962, the Wausau Chapel on Adams Street was built. Scott Brainard, Robert’s son, joined the business in 1978.

In 1982, Brainard Funeral Home opened the first crematory in central and northern Wisconsin. Scott Brainard assumed an ownership role in the family business in 1985, and his father, Robert, retired in 1996 after 45 years of serving area families. The Everest Chapel in Weston opened in 2005.

The team at Brainard Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to carry on the family tradition of caring and professional service, now and far into the future.