Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Mark Zimmer
Licensed Funeral Director
Mark attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated from Worsham’s College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1977. Mark moved to the Sheboygan area in 1983 after purchasing the former Ahrens Funeral Home in Howards Grove. In 1996, he acquired the former Gerend-Habermann Funeral Home in Sheboygan. In 2003, work was completed on the new 9500 sq ft. Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center. Ballhorn Chapels became part of the company in 2014. Mark is a member of Pine Hills Country Club and is a Master Mason with the Sheboygan Blue Lodge #11. Mark is a past president of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association where he continues to serve on the committee and a past president of the Lakeshore Funeral Directors Association, as well as former president of the Howards Grove Lions Club and Sheboygan Jay Cees. He is past chairman of the Sheboygan County Lions Eye Bank and was on the advisory committee for the Milwaukee Eye Institute. He also is a former member of the board of directors for the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Howards Grove LCMS, and is a past board member of the Sheboygan County Chaplaincy. Mark and his wife, Debra, live in Howards Grove. He enjoys volunteer work on community projects, restoring vintage cars and gardening.
Fawn Schaefer
Licensed Funeral Director/Manager
Fawn Schaefer was born and raised in Milwaukee. She graduated from Rufus King High School in 1995 and Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2000 with an associate degree in mortuary science. She is also a preplanning specialist and received her insurance license in 2005. Fawn started her apprenticeship at Schramka Funeral Home in Milwaukee and then, following graduation, went to work for Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory in Burlington. Family is very important to Fawn, so she relocated to Appleton in 2014 and joined the Ballhorn Chapels & Zimmer Westview team in June of 2015.
As an active member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, Fawn served as President for the Southeastern District for over six years while in Burlington. She then served as a board member with the Lakeshore District and is the current Lakeshore District Board Rep on the WFDA Board. Fawn is also an active member of the Grant Elementary School PTO and the Sheboygan Rotary. She enjoys reading, shopping, and entertaining her family and friends. She has been married to her husband, Lucas, for 21 years, and they have two children, Sam and Scarlett.
Nicole Arnhoelter
Licensed Funeral Director
Nicole is a Sheboygan native and graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 2004. She knew early on in life that her calling was to serve her community during one of the most sensitive times of their lives. In 2016, Nicole graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College with a degree in mortuary science. After serving her apprenticeship with Wittkopp Funeral & Cremation Services in Plymouth, she then joined the Ballhorn Chapels & Zimmer Westview team in January of 2018.
Family is extremely important to Nicole, and any of her spare time is spent with her husband and four children. She also enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and volunteering within the community.
Family is extremely important to Nicole. Any of her spare time is spent with her husband and four children. She also enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and volunteering within the community.
Ean Sinn
Licensed Funeral Director
Ean grew up in Trimont, Minnesota, and graduated from the
University of Minnesota with a degree in mortuary science. After graduation,
Ean worked in Minnesota until relocating to the Sheboygan area to be closer to
his fiancée’s family who live near Howards Grove.
Ean’s interest in funeral service began as a junior in high
school when he job shadowed at his local funeral home for a class assignment.
Since then, he has seen the positive impact funeral professionals have on
families at the end of their loved one’s life and is determined to help
families in any way he can.
Ean loves spending time with his fiancée, family, friends,
and new Golden Retriever named Dolly.
Pam Burkel (née Buser)
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
Pam Burkel (née Buser) was born and raised in Cedarburg, WI. She lived in Port Washington, WI, for more than 25 years raising her two wonderful children, Jessica and Adam, and she currently lives with her husband, Jim, in Cedar Grove, WI. Pam has an associate degree in accounting and more than 11 years of experience in preplanning funerals. She has a passion for working with families to help them plan for such an important event. In their spare time, Pam and Jim enjoy traveling, taking scenic trips on their motorcycle, and attending Packer Games.
Tracy Smith
Administrative Bookkeeper
Tracy has worked in the customer service and accounts receivable
and payable fields most of her adult life after graduating from high school. Along
with training and learning skills on the job, she has completed classes in
Microsoft Word and Excel at UW Sheboygan College. She has been working at
Ballhorn Chapels since January 2005.
In 1997, Tracy married Todd, and they have a daughter who
lives in California. Tracy and Todd spend most summers camping and traveling to
different campgrounds in Wisconsin, enjoying the outdoors with family and
friends. Tracy likes to stay active with various activities such as running,
working out at a local gym, and playing volleyball. She is also interested in
gardening.
Becky Thiessen
Office Manager/Apprentice Funeral Director
Becky was born and raised in the Manitowoc/Two Rivers area. She is married to her husband, Chuck, and together they have a blended family of four children: Alex and Claire, and Alex and Allison. They also have two dogs and two cats. Becky has her Funeral Director Apprenticeship and is the Office Manager. She truly enjoys helping families. In her spare time, Becky likes spending time with her family and playing on several volleyball teams.
Allen VanDeLoo
Funeral Assistant
Allen was born and raised in Sheboygan and is a longtime
employee of St. Nicholas Hospital. In 2008, he joined the funeral home family
as a Funeral Director Assistant. He is a dedicated member of Trinity Lutheran
Church in Sheboygan and was an active member of the Sheboygan Jaycees for over
fifteen years. Allen lives the creed he learned in the Jaycees that “Service to
humanity is the best work of life.”
Scott Johnson
Funeral Assistant/Apprentice Funeral Director
Scott was born and raised in the Sheboygan area and
graduated from Sheboygan North in 1981. He has two children: Derek and
Madeline. Scott has been a telephone technician for O & W Communications
since 1988. His work in funeral service began in 2016 as a funeral assistant.
In 2019, he received his license as a funeral apprentice.
With a huge heart, Scott is always willing to help family,
friends, and anyone who could use a helping hand. His compassion and kindness
carry over to funeral service, ensuring that all families have what they need
and feel cared for. Scott resides in Elkhart Lake and is an active member of
the Elkhart Lake Fire Department. In his spare time, he enjoys almost anything
outdoors such as hunting, fishing, kayaking, and walks along the water. Scott
is also an avid photographer and enjoys finding the beauty in the small things
each and every day.
Julian Jetzer
Funeral Assistant
Julian is a longtime resident of the Sheboygan area. In
1958, he began his broadcasting career with WHBL in Sheboygan. He also owned
and operated Central Photo Company for a brief period in the 1970s and was
manager of the Louise Sills Commercial Photography Division before purchasing
Central Photo from the Sills Corporation. In 2000, Julian retired from radio
broadcasting when he sold his radio stations, WKTS/WXER in Sheboygan and WGBM
in Green Bay. He served as Secretary for the Sheboygan Downtown Association and
was on the Sheboygan Area United Way Board of Directors. Julian currently
serves as the Technical Director for the Weill Center for the Performing Arts
in Sheboygan. He and his wife, Jane, recently moved from their retirement home
at Pigeon Lake in Manitowoc County to Howards Grove.
Jerry Kamp
Funeral Assistant
Jerry and his wife, Barb, live in Sheboygan Falls. They have four grown children; three live in the Sheboygan area and one lives near Knoxville, TN. Jerry's career began in banking and moved into health care management. He retired from Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, MO, in 2013. Upon his retirement, Jerry and Barb moved back to the Sheboygan area to be near their five grandsons. Jerry enjoys playing golf and watching his grandsons' sporting events.
Ken Rishel
Funeral Assistant
Ken was born and raised in Sheboygan, where he attended school at Sheboygan North and graduated in 1976. Ken went to UW-Sheboygan and then to UW Milwaukee. In 1983, he married Brenda Duessing, and they have two wonderful children, Amber and Aaron, both of Sheboygan. Besides helping as a Funeral Assistant, Ken also is an independent agent for a logistics company, works as a Karaoke Host/DJ for Top Shelf DJs & Karaoke, and is President of the Sheboygan County Warming Shelter for the Homeless in Sheboygan County. Ken enjoys shooting darts in the winter and playing golf in the summer. He started working for Ballhorn Chapels/Zimmer Westview in May of 2018.
William Dicke
Funeral Assistant
As a lifetime resident of Sheboygan Falls, William retired
in 2015. He and his wife, Susan, enjoy spending time with their three daughters’
families, especially their four grandkids who are all in the Milwaukee area. Volunteering
at their church and the WEILL center is a passion of William’s, and his other hobbies
include antiquing, attending auctions, and cheering for the Brewers. William
also spends his spare time in their yard filled with flower beds of hostas and
perennials.
William started with the Zimmer family in April of 2018 and thoroughly
enjoys his role of helping families in their time of need.
Doug Hasenstein
Funeral Assistant
Doug previously lived in Sheboygan and attended UW-Sheboygan, earning an Associate of Science degree. He worked for the Kohler Company as a Staff Analyst and a designer in the Power Systems Group. He currently holds one patent for an original design. In January 2018, Doug retired after 42 years with the company and began to search for a part-time job. His strong faith in the Lord gave him a desire to serve families during one of their most difficult times, so he joined Zimmer Funeral Homes in March of 2019.
Doug has three sons, and he lost his first wife of 32 years, Margie, to cancer in 2013. He married Nancy Fritz in 2018 and now resides in West Bend. Doug is very involved at Bethlehem Lutheran Church as a member of the Board of Elders, an usher, and a communion assistant. He also volunteers for Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School, helping with cross country meets, working in the cash room for the annual auction, and assisting the basketball program as a scorekeeper. His hobbies are bowling, biking, and home remodeling.
Jack Huenink
Funeral Assistant
Jack grew up in Cedar Grove and graduated from Cedar Grove
High School in 1986. He returned to the Sheboygan area after living in the Ann
Arbor Michigan area, where he had done volunteer work for the University of
Michigan Cancer Research and Development Center. Jack began working as a
Funeral Assistant in February of 2019. He enjoys helping people and finds his
job to be very rewarding. Jack loves being outdoors, and he enjoys spending
time with his nieces and nephews and with his dogs. He also volunteers with
animal rescue organizations.
John Stephen
Funeral Assistant/Maintenance
John has three children and eight grandchildren, and he truly enjoys spending time with his family. He tries to attend as many of his grandchildren's activities as possible. John retired from Hexion Chemical in 2014 and is keeping busy in his retirement. He is an active member of his church, Zion ECC, in Sheboygan and is Secretary of Treasury for the Howards Grove Lions Club.
Rob Perl
Maintenance
Rob is on the maintenance team for Zimmer Westview/ Ballhorn Chapels. He was born and raised in Sheboygan, and he has two children, Robert III (Bobby) and Victoria (Tori). Rob enjoys spending his free time with his children and doing woodworking projects. In 1999, he established Perl Home Improvements.
Mike Burch
Funeral Assistant
Mike has a BA in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University and an MA in Christian Community Leadership from Regis University. Mike was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1994 and currently serves at St. John XXIII in Port Washington. He has worked the majority of his career in various ministries in the Church, most notably as the Parish Director pastoring/leading St. Peter Claver Church in Sheboygan for ten and a half years. Mike retired from church administration in 2019 after three years as Pastoral Coordinator at St. John XXIII.
In his retirement, Mike has served as a funeral assistant since February 2020. His experience with grieving families and his compassionate nature make him well-suited for assisting our funeral directors, families, and guests.
Mike is married to his wife, Kathy, who is a second grade teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Plymouth. They have a home in Sheboygan. Their son, Ryan, is married to Beth, and they have two children. Mike likes to run and has completed several half marathons and two full marathons. He also plays trombone in the Sheboygan Pops Concert Band.
Sheila L. Werner
Funeral Assistant
Sheila was born and raised in Manitowoc, WI, and graduated from Lincoln High School. She and her husband, Stacey, moved to Sheboygan in 2016. Sheila has a very caring heart and always shows compassion for others. She has a long history of involvement in the health care field. Prior to working in private home care, she owned a group home for the elderly in the Manitowoc area.
Sheila’s
son, Philip, also lives in Sheboygan. Sheila enjoys traveling with her husband
and spending time in Crivitz, WI, with her family and friends.
Mary Jane Tauschek
Funeral Assistant
Mary Jane is originally from Woodstock, IL. Her family moved to Wisconsin when her father was in the service. He passed away when Mary Jane was eleven, so she helped her mother look after her younger siblings. Throughout the years, Mary Jane had various jobs, but her passion was to run her own bed and breakfast. She and her husband, Steven, worked hard to make that dream come true, owning and operating a bed and breakfast for fourteen years.
Mary Jane has one son and three granddaughters who are her pride and joy. She also has a dog named Harley.
Bobby Lewis
Funeral Assistant
Bobby has lived in Sheboygan for thirteen years. During that
time, he has worked as a personal care worker for ten years and at another
local funeral home for four years. He also has experience working in cleaning
at several local businesses. Bobby enjoys doing volunteer work at the local
food pantry. His faith as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is important to him, and
he considers his work to be an example of those values.
Jim Kolb
Funeral Assistant
Jim was born and raised in Sheboygan. After graduating from Sheboygan South High, he joined the Army and served both stateside and in Germany. Upon leaving active duty, Jim joined the active reserves and spent another seven years in the military.
Jim and his wife, Melody, have two adult daughters, Sarah and Jessica. He spent the majority of his working years in the information technology field. He retired from Thrivent Financial, where he managed all of the corporate data centers and the staff that supported them.
As a long-time member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Sheboygan, Jim enjoys singing in the Chancel Choir and Men’s Choir.
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