STAFF DIRECTORY

Once you request the services of Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home, we will immediately put our experienced funeral professionals to work for you. A single, dedicated individual will stay in contact with you every step of the way and guide you through the decision-making process. He or she will carefully explain your options, make recommendations at your request, take care of all the small details, and ensure that you and your family's personal touch is always present.

The staff is composed of funeral directors and support staff.

James A. Sass Email: jamessass@wi.rr.com Position: President & Oversee operations at all four locations Education: Attended St. Alexander Grade School, Don Bosco High School, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Graduate of Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science Length of Employment: Began working at the funeral home 46 years ago. Community Involvement: President of the Milwaukee Society of the P.N.A., Member of the city of Franklin Fire and Police Commission, South Side Business Club, 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus, 4th degree Bishop Henni Council, Member and Past President of the Greenfield Lions Club, Member and Past President of the Milwaukee Funeral Director Association, Past Chairman of the Board the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board, Chairman of the Board of Lincoln Savings Bank, President of Lincoln State Bank, Member of the Board of Merchants and Manufacturers Bank Corp., Past Chairman of the Board of St. Francis Hospital, Board Member of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Volunteer Special Olympics, Awards, South Side Business Man of the Year, Polish American of the Year, Recipient of the Melvin Jones Award (the Highest award a lion can attain), helped found the Compassionate Friends - Milwaukee Chapter, and is also a Member of St. Anne Intraenerational. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Married to Susie, with three children, Steven, Tami, and Kimberly. We love spending as much time with and enjoying our five grandchildren, golfing and fishing.

Marv Kremski Email: office@wi.rr.com Position: Vice President Branch: Mission Hills/ All locations Qualification/Experience: Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer state of Wisconsin 1968 for 40 years, with firm management, administration, financial, funeral arranging & conducting. Education: St. Gerard Catholic Church grade school 1953-1961, Pulaski High School 1961-1965, Milwaukee Institute of Technology 1965-1966, University of Wisconsin 1966-1967, Wisconsin Institue of Mortuary Science 1967-1968. Length of Employment: 40 yrs Community Involvement: Member & past director Southside Business Assoc., member & Past Director P.N.A./Milwaukee Society 2159, member of St. Josephs Foundation, member & past President Eleemoysinarians St. Fancis Hospital, past member Board of Directors St. Francis Hospital Foundation, past President & board member Milwaukee Lake Lions Club, member Greendale Lions Club, past President Milwaukee County Funeral Directors Assoc. St. Alphonsus Church. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Golf, boating (Tuckaway Country Club), fan of professional baseball, football, golf, and college basketball and football. Wife Judy, son Michael, daughter Michelle

Steven J. Sass Coming Soon!

Michael Kremski Email: mikekremski@wi.rr.com Position: Funeral Director I was born at St. Francis Hospital on Milwaukee’s south side to Marv and Judy Kremski (nee Sass).  My family were established business owner’s, with my grandfather Myron operating a tavern on 20th and Oklahoma, my grandmother Hilde owning and operating a card store and my mother’s parents owning Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home.  I attended Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary Hales Corners and St. Alphonsus grade schools and St. Thomas More High School.  I went on to attain a degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and my funeral service degree from the Milwaukee Area Technical College.  I joined the firm in 1988 as an apprentice, was licensed in 1992 and have tried my best to continue our family’s commitment to service ever since.  I was married in 2000 to Amy Beining.  We started a family and have three children, Caroline, Katherine and William.  We live in Franklin and enjoy being part of the vibrant and growing community.  We belong to St. Martin of Tours Church, are active in many community activities and enjoy a wide range of outdoor events as a family. I am a member of the Franklin Lions, the Kiwanis Club, Southside Business Club, served as subdivision president and on the finance committee at St. Martin of Tours.  Community service has always been a hallmark of our family. I pride myself in helping families to arrange funerals that are meaningful and personal to them.  I want the families I have the privilege of serving to feel that they having honored their family member in exactly the way that was appropriate to them to not just follow the “same old format”.  I think in the past, some of the emphasis was taken off the person who had died and place on the ritual itself.  Today people are doing an excellent job of blending meaningful rituals with personalization.

Don Edwards Don Edwards joined the firm in 1978 after a distinguished career as customer service manger at Louis Allis. He is married to Max and Helen Sass's oldest child, Patricia. Don and Pat have six children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Don is an avid sports fan, navy veteran, enjoys traveling, playing cards and his accordion. Although not a licensed funeral director, Don has provided ancillary services to many grieving families and has handled the accounting work for the firm. He is now semi-retired but still has a strong commitment to the families that we serve and to the firm.

Marlowe Larsen Position: Funeral Director/Manager Qualification/Experience: 25 years of all aspects of funeral service Education: Associate Degree in Funeral Service MATC Length of Employment: 22 years Community Involvement: Member of St. Lukes Lutheran Church Greendale, WI. Member of Voices of St. Lukes. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Gardening, and misc. interests.

Steven J. Sanders Position: Licensed Funeral Director and office manager Qualification/Experience: 30 years as a licensed Funeral Director Education: Liberal Arts education at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Association degree in funeral services from Milwaukee Area Technical College Length of Employment: 20 years at Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home Community Involvement: Active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Milwaukee where I sing in the adult choir, member of ASPCA, World Wildlife Fund, the Humane Society, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Ocean Conservancy, Wisconsin Historical Soc., Milwaukee County Historical Soc., Milwaukee Art Museum, Amnesty International, Sherman Park Community Assoc., Wisconsin Funeral Director Assoc., National Funeral Directors Assoc. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Gardening, traveling, exercise, proud owner of two naughty dogs Tipper and Parker.

Andrew Stiller Position: Funeral Director/Embalmer Education:1994 graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical College Experience: Funeral Director/Embalmer for 14 years. Community Involvement: Lifelong member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Enjoys time with family and friends and working around the house>

Denise L. Parks Position: Funeral Director (Embalmer) Qualification/Experience: I’ve been in the funeral business for approximately 9 yrs. Education: Attended Milwaukee Area Tech College (MATC) to acquire a barber/cosmo. license in 1986. Achieved Associates Degree at the same college in Funeral Services Length of Employment: 8.5 yrs. Community Involvement: Volunteered for various activities with a local church. Participated in a high school career day program. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Creating dried flower arrangements (baskets, wreaths, etc…), downhill skiing, bicycling, camping, traveling.

Eliott Derocher I was born in Milwaukee in 1948 and the eldest of eight children by 1962. I attended Holy Redeemer Catholic grade school, Washington High School and MATC, for its mortuary science school, all located in Milwaukee. I was in the U. S. Navy before mortuary school, from 1967 until 1971, involved in the Vietnam Conflict. Later, I worked four years at "Western Electric" before deciding on this profession. I obtained my funeral director and embalmer licenses in 1979. I own a home in Menomonee Falls and have been married 37 years. We have four adult children and six grandchildren. That is an awful lot of birthday celebrations, anniversaries, religious and school functions, doctor visits and, just general bonding with newborns, to keep me busy when not here on the premises. Currently at Max A. Sass & Sons, I operate our crematory with one other director on our staff. I also work visitation detail assignments; interacting with families that have come to our funeral home because of a death in the family, or of a personal friend. Because of the experience I bring to the firm, I assist other directors on staff. That is, attempting to enhance that particular funeral service by attending to the needs of the family, who placed their trust into our hands in the first place. Our funeral home has four locations, as you know. The directors, licensed apprentices and support staff, form a work force located in various neighborhoods. We involve ourselves with churches, cemeteries, funeral merchandise suppliers and others who are, even indirectly, involved in our profession. Of equal importance, we are in tune with our families' 'guests' who have come to our funeral homes to pay homage to a deceased member of the community. We supply the place and comfort. We supply the amenities. We supply the trust, because, this is most important to the Sass philosophy.

Ralph R. Haas Position: Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer Qualification/Experience: Licensed 35 yrs. owned & operated own Funeral home for 20yrs. Education: 4 years U.S. Navy, Associate Applied Science MATC (1st yr of Mortuary school there) B.S. Degree Citadel & Upper Iowa University Military Science, Business Admin., Mortuary Science. Length of Employment: Associated with Max A. Sass & Sons since 1972 serving apprenticeship here. Community Involvement: Member church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints serving High Council. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Married 40 yrs to Gloria Jean, 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren. Fisherman & hunter.

Joe Carrao Position: Funeral Director Qualification/Experience: In Funeral Service since 2004 Education: Associate Degree Accounting (Stratton College 1996), Associate Degree Funeral Service (M.A.T.C. 2006) Length of Employment:Joined Max A. Sass in February 2008 Hobbies/Interests/Personal: I am married to Liz, with no children. Interests include reading, watching baseball (Brewers) and gardening.

Gregory J. Fischer Position: Licensed Funeral Director I was born in West Allis in 1967. I attended St Matthias Grade School, 1986 Graduate of Nathan Hale High School in West Allis and a 1990 graduate of the mortuary science program at MATC. I was a member of St. Matthias Catholic Church for 30 years and I am a current active member of St James Catholic Church in Franklin. Activities at the church include Member of the Parish Council, Faith commission and the snow removal team. My time away from the office I enjoy spending time with my wife Judy and son Michael working around the house, motorcycling, camping, fishing and hiking with my family. I am a HOG member, and a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motor cycle enthusiasts, paying tribute and honoring those who served in the military with motorcycle escorts. The last 20 years I've guided thousands of families in the planning of meaningful services, from memorial services and traditional services, to pay tribute and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

Lori Catherine Schultz Position: Secretary Education: Dominican High School Length of Employment: 9 Years with Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Homes Community Involvement: Active Member at St. Paul Catholic Church. Volunteer at the Milw. Humane Society. Member of Chute Pond Snowmobilers Club, and the Dusty Trails ATV Club. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: My husband (Tim) and I enjoy our 2 dogs and our cat. We are avid snowmobilers, ATVers, and all around out doors people. I like to work in my garden all spring, summer and fall. During the winter months I crochet and scrapbook.

Tom Kaminski Position: Community Relations Director Education: St. Stans, Don Bosco, U-W Community Involvement: Milwaukee Braves Historical Assoc Treasurer, St. Anne’s Center, Mendota Club U-W. – Polish National Alliance – Milwaukee Society. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Sports and travel. Traveled with Green Bay Packers 33 years, Dallas Cowboys 2 years, St Louis Cards 1 year, Houston Astro’s 1 year, Milwaukee Braves 5 years, Milwaukee Brewers 7 years, and Milwaukee Bucks 6 years.

Kathy Hnilicka Position: Pre-need Counselor Qualification/Experience: Elem. Ed. Teacher, Dir. of early Childhood Programs , Licensed State of WI Life Insurance Agent and State of WI Agent for Burial Agreements. Education: B.S. Elementary Education and Two Library Science Degrees Length of Employment: 1 yr Community Involvement: Had served for 6 yrs on the Bd. of Dir. for the YMCA and YWCA. Chaired the West Sub. YMCA Partner Campaign 6 yrs. – Honored as their Vol. of the year, twice. Honored as Friend of Education by Wauwatosa Public Schools. Served as Pres. Of Wauwatosa Public schools PTAs Council. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Mother to 6 sons. Married 30 years. Photography, scrap booking, reading, travel.

Robert Walczak Education: Graduate of Marquette University (1957) Experience: Employed by National Funeral Directors Association for 45 years. Community Involvement: Member of St. Roman Parish. Hobbies/Interests/Personal: Married to Marion, with two daughters, Jan and Jill, and three grandchildren. Also on the loist of Marquette's all time great Basketball players.

Sandi Reidenbach Position: Secretary Experience: Has been with firm for 9 years serving as secretary Community Involvement:Member of Hales Corners Lutheran Church Hobbies/Interests/Personal: She and her husband have two children and live in Franklin, enjoys weaving, cooking and traveling with her husband.