Family-Owned
Feerick Funeral Home has been family-owned since it was first established in 1896 by William C. Feerick. Brothers Patrick and Bill Feerick, who now own and operate the funeral home, are the fourth generation of Feerick Funeral Directors. Today, more than ever, choosing to use a family-owned and operated funeral home may be the most important decision you can make, assuring your wishes will be met with accuracy and sensitivity, as well as knowing the cost will be fair and reasonable. We are proud to assist you in our time-honored tradition of compassionately providing the highest quality in funeral service.
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William Feerick Director Email: william@feerickfuneralhome.com After graduation from Marquette University High School, Bill Feerick attended St. Thomas University majoring in Theology in preparation for service to the community as a funeral director. After completing his funeral service training in Milwaukee’s Mortuary of Science program, he joined the family business in 1987. "Serving others through funeral service is fulfilling, providing many opportunities to help them through a difficult time. While I enjoy being active in many civic and charitable organizations, funeral service brings the greatest rewards." |
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Patrick Feerick Director Email: patrick@feerickfuneralhome.com Patrick brings a varied background to his profession at Feerick’s, including journeyman carpenter, political science degree from Cardinal Stritch University and 17 years in funeral service. "I consider my work to be a ministry, assisting families in creating meaningful tributes, recognizing the lives of their loved ones. Knowing I have done all I possibly can to help people in their time of grief is the greatest gift I can give." |
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Kyle Feerick Pre-Arrangement Specialist Email: kyle@feerickfuneralhome.com Being the fifth generation of the family business, Kyle started working with his father and uncle at the age of 16. A graduate of Dominican High School and Cardinal Stritch University, Kyle Feerick majored in Marketing and minored in Music. Kyle is the Pre-Arrangement Specialist with Feerick Funeral Home. "As a Pre-Arrangement Specialist I enjoy helping to educate people on planning a funeral; giving them all the options so they can make meaningful decisions that they are comfortable with." |
Our Family History
William C. Feerick, founder of the Feerick Funeral Home, accompanied his parents as an infant to the United States as they settled in what is now Hartford, Wisconsin. His parents were in their mid-twenties at the time and, through hard work and perseverance, accumulated a great deal of land. The 150 acres of property they owned was home to the splendid Feerick Farm in Wauwatosa. Depictions of the Feerick Farm are pictured in several books outlining the history of the Milwaukee area. To this day, there is still a Feerick Street and Feerick Place where the old Feerick Farm was located.
William's father, Michael, was said to be a progressive and enterprising citizen of substantial character. As noted in the Biographical Memoirs of Milwaukee County, "Michael Feerick was straightforward and upright in all his business dealings and his word was as good as his bond. Possessed as he was of a handsome competence, and imbued with progressive ideas, he saw that each of his ten children were given an excellent education." William, before establishing the Feerick Funeral Home, was educated in the Milwaukee Public Schools, then graduated from Mayer’s Business College and married at the age of 19. Throughout his education he worked with his father in agricultural pursuits until 1896, when at the age of 21, he embarked on his own business as an undertaker and liveryman.
The original Feerick Funeral Home was extremely modern for its time, complete with its own embalming facilities and equipment. Located on the second floor of the funeral home were the living quarters as well as the sewing rooms where the interiors of caskets would be carefully sewn and hemmed. In addition to the funeral home, William C. Feerick also had his own stables, roan horses, hearses, and phaeton carriages. His roan horses were known throughout Milwaukee for their ornate bells and gorgeous large plumes. His reputation as a funeral director, offering truly dignified services, became well-respected in the community. As noted in the Biographical Memoirs of Milwaukee County, "William C. Feerick employed in his work the same kind of energy, perseverance, and strict integrity, inherited from a worthy sire, and his business thrived accordingly." On September 13, 1931, the Milwaukee Sentinel listed William C. Feerick in a full-page article as one of the Builders of Greater Milwaukee.
William had one child, Ralph C. Feerick, who was born in 1896, the same year the funeral home was founded. While still a young man, Ralph joined his father in business and learned that being a funeral director was not only an occupation but a way of life, dedicating oneself to always being available to help others, day and night, seven days a week.
At the age of 19, shortly after joining his father in business, Ralph married Sylvia Koosch. His new bride Sylvia was also immediately educated in the family business. She embraced this way of life, working diligently to help her husband and father-in-law by going to families to console them following a death. She also was proud of her position in making out the carriage list for the funeral processions. Four of Ralph and Sylvia's six children joined their parents working at the funeral home, making for a third generation of Feerick Funeral Directors.
Today, Feerick Funeral Home is managed by a fourth generation, Pat and Bill Feerick. The current location at 2025 East Capitol Drive in Shorewood was built in 1933. The Feericks dedication to quality and dignity is apparent to anyone who visits their Shorewood funeral home. All of the old charm of the original funeral home has been maintained with its carved woodwork and crystal chandeliers. In 1966, a major addition was put on the building to accommodate the expanding business. The building is continually being renovated to meet the changing needs of the community. The furnishings of the funeral home have always been warm and comforting, with much of the furniture dating back to the original funeral home. As one visitor recently commented, "This funeral home is so soothing, I feel as if I am in the home of an old trustworthy friend."
Pat and Bill are committed to the work of the previous generations that paved the way, making Feerick the funeral home that thousands of families and individuals have come to rely upon. Both take their position in the community very seriously as did their father, Robert H. Feerick, who died in 1992. They agree that they were very blessed to have their father as a role model, having learned first-hand from their father that success in the funeral business is possible only when you are truly dedicated to helping others. With gratitude, Pat and Bill also have a tremendous amount of respect for their mother, Marjorie, who had to continuously adapt her life to accommodate their father's extensive hours serving families. Upon Robert's death, Marjorie stepped in to help manage the business until her retirement in 2002.
When William C. Feerick opened the first Feerick Funeral Home in 1896, he most likely had little conception of the positive impact his founding work would have on the Milwaukee community more than one hundred years later. The Feerick Funeral Home of today no longer has stables with horses and carriages, yet it is still known for dignified service, provided to families within a beautiful facility. Brothers Pat and Bill work together with their staff to help bring meaning and purpose to the lives that have been lived and healing to those left behind. As for the continued success of the Feerick Funeral Home, they both believe it grows out of the integrity inherited from their great-grandfather that has been passed down over generations. They work diligently on maintaining that integrity in their business and on every funeral they and their staff of funeral directors conduct.
Pat and Bill Feerick who now manage the funeral home are each licensed funeral directors. Both men realize that many individuals are aware of the quality and dignity their funeral home offers, noting that families seek their services from all over Wisconsin and not just from Milwaukee’s East Side.
Independent FUNERAL HOMES
Member Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association
Member National Funeral Directors Association
Member Better Business Bureau
