Houston-based funeral and cemetery services provider Carriage Services Inc. has acquired Brookfield’s Becker Ritter Funeral Home for $4.35 million.
Becker Ritter, a family business, was founded in 1901 by Joseph Becker and has served more than 200 family clients each year. It has been located at 14075 W. North Ave. since 1973. Joseph Becker III currently leads the business, while Paul Andrus serves as general manager and funeral director. Becker and his wife Kathy, who serves as vice president and business operations director, tripled the size of the facility in 1999, to 37,000 square feet, adding a tower chapel and formal dining room.
Carriage Services operates 168 funeral homes in 28 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states. This is Carriage’s first Wisconsin funeral home. It targets larger markets it deems strategic based on the work it conducts around demographics, a spokesperson said.
“Our unequaled commitment to serving families, along with our first-class facility filled with antiques and spiritual warmth, have created a niche for Becker Ritter that has expanded our presence beyond traditional boundaries,” Becker said. “Kathy and I are excited about becoming a part of an elite group of funeral homes with a rich tradition of providing high-value personal service. Our partnership with Carriage Services will only enhance our reputation and our ability to provide the level of outstanding service to our community for which we have always been known.”
Carriage indicated Joseph and Kathy will continue to be involved with Becker Ritter long term.
“The partnership with Becker Ritter Funeral Home aligns 100 percent with our ten-year strategic vision of affiliating with only the best remaining businesses in the best strategic markets,” said Mel Payne, chairman and chief executive officer of Carriage. “We are excited that by entering the highly attractive and large new strategic market of Brookfield-Greater Milwaukee by affiliating with Becker Ritter Funeral Home, we are now well-positioned for growth with other quality firms in the future. “
