funeral director, Harder Funeral Home, Brookfield, Wisconsin, died July 16, 2024, at age 43. Nienstedt attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison while apprenticing at Gunderson Funeral Home. He earned his degree in mortuary science at Milwaukee Area Technical College and worked at Schmitt and Bartelt Funeral Homes in Milwaukee. He also worked in Sheboygan at Ballhorn Chapels/Westview, in Hartford at Shimon Funeral Home and in Brookfield at Harder Funeral Home. Nienstedt was involved with the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Lake Shore District for 10 years, where he served as district representative prior to his death. He was also a member of the Hartford Kettle Moraine and Hartford Lion’s Club, where he coordinated many successful fundraisers.

He is survived by wife Kacey, sons Mason and Liam, and brothers Andy and Matthew.

retired funeral director and past owner, Routsong Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kettering, Ohio, died July 12, 2024, at age 96. Routsong graduated from Purdue University with a degree in mechanical engineering and began his career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, involved in the development of numerous aircraft. He was especially proud to have been part of the team that reverse-engineered enemy aircraft at the end of World War II.

Routsong joined his father in the business as a licensed funeral director and grew the company to three facilities, the second a restored historic home in Centerville and the current location in Kettering, which he designed from the ground up.

Routsong was a recipient of the James E. West Award from Miami Valley Boy Scouts of America. He was a founding member of Kettering-Oakwood Exchange Club and Lions Club of Oakwood and was affiliated with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Far Hills Lodge and AASR Valley of Dayton. Routsong was a member of Antioch Shrine, Arabic Club and a founding member and past president of Far Hills High 12 Club.

He is survived by wife Marylou; daughter Jane; son Thomas A. (“TR”), now owner of the funeral home; three grandchildren, two of which, Samuel and Maxwell, are also funeral directors at Routsong; and stepson Neil.

funeral director and regional operations director for Vertin Company, died August 9, 2024, at age 50. Decker graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and moved to Oakes, North Dakota, where he worked at Dahlstrom Funeral Home.

He decided to make a career change within funeral service and worked as a regional sales representative for Deaton-Kennedy to provide supplies to funeral homes until 2010, when Decker and his family relocated to Morris, Minnesota, where he resumed his calling as a funeral director at Pedersen and Starbuck funeral homes. In September 2019, Decker accepted the position of regional operations director for Vertin Company, parent company of the funeral homes.

Decker is survived by wife Deb, daughter Riley, son Durgin, one grandson and a grandchild on the way.

retired funeral director, founder and owner, James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque, Texas, died August 4, 2024, at age 94. Crowder attended Landig Mortuary College in Houston and worked at Malloy & Son Funeral Home in Galveston as an ambulance driver, funeral director and assistant manager. With his first wife, Ann, they grew the business together, expanding across Galveston County with locations in La Marque and Dickinson. After Ann’s death, Crowder and three of his sons expanded once more to Webster before he retired in 2003.

Crowder received the Distinguished Service Award from the La Marque Junior Chamber of Commerce. After serving as chamber president, he was elected mayor of La Marque. His tenure as mayor led him to his next endeavor as La Marque City councilman, where he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from La Marque Chamber of Commerce and began his bid for his second term as mayor. He was again recognized for outstanding citizenship by Knights of Columbus. Crowder served as president of the Rotary Club and continued to participate in several civic organizations. In 1993, Crowder made another bid for political office and was elected mayor of Tiki Island. He has been a member of the board of directors of Gulf National Bank (now Texas First Bank) since 1983.

Crowder is survived by second wife Betty; sons John, James Jr. and Walter; stepson Erik; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Anamosa, Iowa, died November 30, 2020, at age 89. McBride attended Loras College in Dubuque and Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Management in Indianapolis. He was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years, working throughout the state of Iowa; an active member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association; and a longtime NFDA member.

McBride served in the U.S. Army Arctic Services Group from 1953-56, with two tours of duty stationed at Thule Air Base near the North Pole. He received the Cold War Service Medal and was a member of the Farley American Legion; he was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by children Michael, Lynne, Margaret and Patricia.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.