About Us
About Us
Roberts Family Funeral Service
In December of 1906, George McDonald arrived in Beloit and began work as the first embalmer for the Boyles-Wolf Furniture Company. He purchased the interest of Fred Wolf in 1907, and Cal Boyles sold his interest to McDonald in 1915. The business was located at 119 N. Mill, and on May 1, 1915, it became known as the McDonald Furniture and Undertaking Company. Vail McDonald joined the firm in 1915 and purchased his father's interest in 1937.
On April 27, 1929, the first funeral home in Beloit was established at 222 W. Main Street, and was given the name of McDonald Funeral Home. Maurice McDonald joined the firm following World War II, becoming the third generation of the McDonald family to join the firm. On March 25, 1955, the current location at 910 North Campbell was opened. In 1968, Maurice purchased the ownership from his parents. In 1972, Max Roberts joined the firm and resided in the living quarters at the Waconda Funeral Home in Cawker City before moving to Beloit in 1977. In January of 1983, Maurice's son, Mark, joined the firm and became the fourth generation McDonald to be associated with the funeral profession. Maurice retired in 1989, and his ownership was purchased from his son, Mark, and business partner Max Roberts. In July of 2001, Max's son, Phil, joined the firm, becoming the second generation Roberts to join the funeral profession. In July of 2010, Sarah Ellenz joined our firm until October 2023.
In April of 2017, Phil purchased Mark's ownership, and the business changed to Roberts Family Funeral Service. Phil serves as a licensed funeral director. Phil's wife, Tami, officially joined the firm in January 2019. She graduated from Des Moines Area Community College in December of 2019 and is currently serving as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Our Beloit location serves as our main facility, where we make family funeral arrangements, and it includes our casket display room.
Waconda Funeral Chapel
The original firm was known as the Tuttle Funeral Home. Charles Vasterling came to Cawker City and purchased the business, calling it the Vasterling Furniture and Undertaking Co. Lenard Miller purchased the business in 1959, and in 1960 purchased the current building. A complete renovation was done, making the funeral home on the ground floor and personal living quarters on the second floor. In 1972, our firm purchased the funeral home, and it was renamed Waconda Funeral Home. In February 2011, we sold the former building on First Street, and are now proud to announce that our recently-completed new facility is open on Wisconsin Street.
