ABOUT / HISTORY

History
The Brian Mark Funeral Home was started by Otto and Ethel Schoenfeld, in 1935 in the small town of Clinton, Wisconsin. Otto later designed and built a new funeral home on Park Avenue in 1951. That address is where Charter Communications is currently located.

In 1961, Otto passed away, and Allen Schoenfeld became a licensed Funeral Director following in his father's footsteps. In 1964, Allen partnered with the Bob Chilsen Funeral Home on Keeler Avenue in Beloit. Bob retired in 1974 after serving the Beloit area for nearly a half century. In 1980, Glen Webermeier designed and built the current location of the funeral home at 1000 Inman Parkway in Beloit. Glen was instrumental in the innovative design and layout of the funeral home which is now the "Gold Standard" of the Beloit funeral homes today. The Clinton facility was acquired in 1992 when Mr. Henry "Hank" Schilke retired. On March 1st, 2008, Allen retired and sold both funeral homes to Brian & Diane Mark. Soon after the purchase was complete, Steven L. Hammill of Rockton joined Brian as a full time manager & funeral director and the two men outlined an extensive plan to renovate the two facilities. Today, we are extremely proud of our investment into our Beloit and Clinton communities. New services options were added as the business grew and so did the professional staff that is available to serve your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Brian Mark Funeral Homes continue to operate in both locations with the commitment to be locally owned and operated.

STAFF

Brian G. Mark was born in St. Louis, Mo.  the third child of five children born to Norman and Dolores (Drutowski) Markofski. He was raised in Lake Zurich, IL and attended Carmel High School for Boys in Mundelien, IL. class of 1982. Brian graduated from Loyola University in Chicago in 1987, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. He completed his education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL. with honors. In addition to being a  Funeral Director and Licensed Embalmer in Illinois and Wisconsin, he is also licensed in Wisconsin as an Agent for Burial Agreements, which allows him to assist families with all aspects of pre-planning.

Brian married Diane Taaffe of Glenview, IL in 2000 and they soon moved to Appleton, WI to start a family as Brian was managing a large multi-location funeral business in the Fox Cities. Brian is committed to community services that encourage unity and camaraderie through social circles in the Beloit area. As a Beloit residents he is active at the Beloit YMCA, Moose Lodge #191, Beloit Chamber, NEBA, Beloit Noon Lions Club, the Elks Club, Ducks Unlimited, the Knights of Columbus and Our Lady or the Assumption Parish. He has dedicated his entire professional life to the funeral industry and has been instrumental over the years in planning the many details of a meaningful and dignified final tribute.

Brian has been blessed with ten wonderful years of marriage to Diane, three healthy children, Avery (9), Griffin (7) and Charlotte (5) and the opportunity to enjoy an active role in raising and educating his children. Away from their family funeral home, he enjoys competitive slalom waterskiing, boating, fishing, swimming and the many family activities the Rock River Valley offers its great residents. 

Steven L. Hammill was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. He is a 1968 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School. He is married to Joan Voigtman and the father of two children, Sarah Brooks and Jeremy Hammill and grandfather of two,  Christian and Shelby Brooks.  Steve is a 1985 graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Skokie, IL and is licensed to practice Funeral Directing and Embalming in Wisconsin.

Active in the community, he has been a member of Beloit Optimist Club, currently secretary of Beloit Noon Kiwanis Club, past Vice Chairman of the Board of First American Credit Union, member of South Central Funeral Directors Association and past board member of Wisconsin Funeral Director's Association, and former member of OGR (Order of the Golden Rule).  He is a active member, past chairman, and substitute organist of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and directed a community choir for several years.  He is an avid fisherman, plays golf poorly, and loves to travel the world.

Steve enjoys meeting new people throughout the greater Beloit community and is honored to be able to help families in their greatest time of need at the loss of a loved one.  A smile, a hug, some thoughtful words of comfort are what you have come to know him for.  

Kathleen "Kathy" E. Anderson was born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin one of nine children.  She is a graduate of Beloit Memorial High School and Blackhawk Technical College.  She has two step children, David and Linda.  Kathy worked for 23 1/2 years at the Beloit Corporation.  She joined Brian Mark Funeral Home in 2006.  She is the office manager taking care of all of the paperwork involved with a funeral service.  She enjoys reading, creating all of her own greeting cards, watching the Green Bay Packers play and spending time with her family and friends.