Full History

Jacob Gerend Sr., one of Sheboygan's pioneer residents, founded Zimmer Funeral Home of Sheboygan in 1878. In those early days, Mr. Gerend had to build his own coffins, which was custom at that time. His son, Jacob Jr., entered the company business in 1886, eventually being devoted to furniture and undertaking. Raymond Gerend began management of the Gerend Funeral Home in 1935, selling the business to John Habermann in 1965. In 1988, John began construction on Sheboygan's only funeral home designed and built in the last half of the twentieth century.

Walter Ahrens was born in Sheboygan in 1896. He graduated from the Marquette School of Funeral Service in Milwaukee, obtaining his funeral director license in 1918. Walter opened a furniture store, grocery store, and funeral home in Sheboygan Falls with his brother, which he operated for sixteen years. He did the same in Howards Grove, eventually moving the funeral operation into what was, at that time, a state-of-the-art funeral facility in September 1929. Walter remained an active funeral director for over sixty years, passing away in 1979.

Mark Zimmer acquired Ahrens Funeral Home in 1983, where, at that time, John Habermann was providing professional services. Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Habermann became associated, working together at the two funeral homes. After over thirty years of ownership, John Habermann sold his interest in the Gerend-Habermann Funeral Home to Mark in 1996. John retired in 1997 and passed away in 2001.

Mark commissioned the design and building of the Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center in 2003. In 2010, the downtown Sheboygan funeral home was consolidated into the Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center. In July of 2014, Mark purchased Ballhorn Chapels Funeral & Cremation Care Center, and combined the businesses in order to share resources and staff.

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