Fourth-Generation Milwaukee Funeral Director Focused on the Details

Those who hold together our communities often go unnoticed. Paul Johnson, co-owner of Heritage Funeral Homes, is one of those individuals who works in the background to help families through the toughest times of their lives. As a fourth-generation funeral director, Paul sees that people have the support and resources they need to honor their loved ones.

Like most kids, Paul never dreamed of being a funeral director when he grew up. His parents worked in the business before him, but never pushed him to pursue the career for himself. After going to college for a couple of years, Paul realized more and more that the family trade would be a rewarding career path.

“I appreciate how much we are helping families,” Paul says. “Being able to make somebody’s difficult experience a little less difficult -- not that it makes it easy, but we can be there for people.”

Aside from those services you would expect of any funeral home, Paul and his staff make sure they take care of the little things too. They handle as much legwork as possible so families can have time to grieve. Details like picking up photos from families’ homes to creating DVD slideshows, creating custom guest books and prayer cards, getting obituaries published and making restaurant reservations are all taken care of so that all families have to do is show up.

“People have only a few times in a lifetime when they have to figure out a funeral,” Paul says. “Often when we meet them, they’re doing it for the first time. I try to be sensitive to what they’re going through while also being a strong leader.”