Our staff's commitment to you

Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.

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Bob & Bette Nickel Former Owners
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Scott Baeten Owner & Funeral Director
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Joe Vanden Avond Funeral Director
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Chad Chervenka Funeral Director
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Gary Clark Funeral Associate
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Norman "Norm" Buchholz Funeral Associate

Bob & Bette Nickel

Former Owners
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Scott Baeten

Owner & Funeral Director
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Scott was born on August 11, 1969 in De Pere to Allen and Janice (Kamps) Baeten. Scott is the youngest of five.

Scott was a 1984 graduate of St. Boniface Grade School and a 1988 graduate of West De Pere High School. In 1992 he graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois. On September 25, 1992, Scott married the former Carrie Micke at St. Joseph Catholic Church in De Pere. Scott and Carrie reside in the Town of Lawrence.

Scott has also been very active in the Knights of Columbus, and is a Past Grand Knight in Fr. Peters Council 8061 in Freedom, Wisconsin.

Currently Scott is a 3rd Degree member of Abbot Pennings Council 3955 of the Knights of Columbus, in De Pere, a member of Assembly 1724 of the 4th Degree Honor Guard, a member of the St. Norbert Abbey Associates, The Wild Rose Sno-Rovers, West De Pere Snow Owls and Way-Morr Lions Club. He is also a member of Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Wisconsin Funeral Service Alliance, a Past President of the Fox River Valley Funeral Directors Association, and a CANA Certified Crematory Operator.

Scott's wife Carrie is a partner at ISC (Insurance Service Center) in De Pere. Scott and Carrie are members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in De Pere, where Scott served as President of the Pastoral Council and School Board member. Currently he serves as an usher, as well as sacrosanct. In his free time he likes to read and spend time with his family at their cottage in Wild Rose.

Joe Vanden Avond

Funeral Director
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Joe grew up in De Pere, the son of Keith and Lisa (Freis) Vanden Avond. He attended Notre Dame Elementary School and Middle School, and jokes he started with Ryan Funeral Home in 2000 as a member of their Little League team. He graduated from De Pere High School in 2008.

After high school, Joe studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in spring of 2013. His career in the industry began in Madison, where he worked for Cress Funeral and Cremation Services. He earned his diploma from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2014 and began working at Ryan Funeral Home shortly thereafter. In 2018, he earned his Grief Support Specialist Certificate through UW-Madison Continuing Studies.

Joe enjoys the City of De Pere's recreation programs, golfing and supporting the Broadway Theatre in De Pere. He is a member of The Pink Flamingos, currently enrolled in the MBA Program at St. Norbert College, and Immediate Past President of the Brown County Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

Chad Chervenka

Funeral Director
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Chad rejoined Ryan Funeral Home in the fall of 2019. He served his apprenticeship at Ryan Funeral Home and has been serving families as a funeral director in Brown County for over a decade. He earned his Mortuary Science degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College.

He and his wife Kristin (Fritsch) live in Rockland with their two sons. In his free time, Chad enjoys hunting, fishing, bowling and activities with his boys.

Gary Clark

Funeral Associate
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Norman "Norm" Buchholz

Funeral Associate
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