Full History

John E. (Johann) Ballhorn was born on January 9, 1843, in Angermude, Germany. At the age of thirteen, he and his family moved to Quebec City, Canada, eventually ending up in Sheboygan County, WI. After serving in the army, John returned to Glenbulah and married Louisa Suckow in 1867. They had two sons and five daughters. Also, an infant was lost soon after birth. John conducted a furniture business in Glenbulah for fourteen years. Legend has it that when they moved to Sheboygan, lumber was being brought in by lake boat. They opened their store at 8th Street and St. Clair Avenue. The property deed dated August 24, 1885, indicates the purchase price of $1,550. John died on February 14, 1899, after a one-week illness of pneumonia.

John F. Ballhorn, the second child of John E. and Louisa (Suckow) Ballhorn, learned the cabinetry trade from his father and helped in the undertaking part of the business. On July 19, 1902, John married Lillie Gotter. They had a son, Milton F., and a daughter, Estella. In February of 1909, John purchased the brick two-story home at 722 St. Clair Avenue from John Kroeten. The undertaking business flourished, and in 1928, a new funeral temple was built on the corner replacing the old wooden store building. The new Ballhorn Funeral Temple was viewed by an estimated 15,000 people during its first opening days.

By this time, John’s son, Milton, had been associated with the business for four years. On November 14, 1932, John was stricken with heart failure. Lillie continued to live at St. Clair Avenue. When the East Chapel was added in the early 1940s, she resided in “Grandma’s” apartment, the second floor of the residence. The last Will and Testament of John F. Ballhorn, dated December 23, 1929, stated that Milton F. Ballhorn should become sole owner of his business.

John William Ballhorn, Milton’s son, graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee and received his funeral director and embalmer license in June 1955. After the sudden death of Milton Ballhornin 1962, John became the manager of the Ballhorn Chapels.In 1965, with the furniture store being closed, John began the complete conversion of the buildings for use as Ballhorn Chapels with the theme of three chapels under one roof.

In July of 2014, Mark Zimmer esteemed local funeral professional, purchased Ballhorn Chapels Funeral & Cremation Care Center and began an extensive remodeling project. The funeral home combined with Zimmer Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center to share resources and staff, enabling them to continue providing the highest level of service to area families.

The team at Ballhorn Chapels Funeral & Cremation Care Center is honored to carry on their long legacy of providing the very best funeral care to families in Sheboygan and the surrounding area, now and far into the future.