Bay View Neighborhood

Cremation involves incinerating the body to produce ashes, which can be scattered, kept in an urn, or placed in a niche, offering flexibility and often lower costs. Burial entails placing the body in a casket underground or in a mausoleum, providing a traditional gravesite for visitation. At Prasser-Kleczka, we guide families through both options with personalized care, ensuring your loved one's wishes are honored respectfully.

Our on-site cremation center ensures your loved one never leaves our care: identification and preparation occur first, followed by a private cremation in a respectful chamber at high temperatures (1,400–1,800°F) for 2–3 hours, resulting in fine ashes. We handle all paperwork and return the remains in an urn of your choice. This dignified process allows for viewings or services beforehand, tailored to your family's needs.

Begin by contacting us at any time—we'll assign a licensed funeral director to guide you through decisions like service type, venue, and personalization. Key steps include selecting burial or cremation, choosing a casket or urn, and arranging flowers or luncheons on-site. Our state-of-the-art software and large-screen mirroring make the process transparent and stress-free, with no obligation to decide everything at once.

We provide direct cremation (simple and affordable, without a service), cremation with a viewing or memorial, or full funerals followed by cremation, all customizable from simple to elaborate, performed in our own on-site crematory to ensure your loved one remains in our care. Families can hold services in our chapels or at churches, with options for scattering gardens or urn placement. Our hands-on approach ensures every detail reflects your loved one's life and legacy.

Traditional ground burial in a casket, entombment in a mausoleum, or green burials are all options, with graveside services if desired. We'll assist with plot selection at local cemeteries and provide impeccable casket choices. Prasser-Kleczka emphasizes dignity, with our clean preparation center ensuring careful handling throughout, so you can focus on celebrating your loved one's memory.

Cremation costs vary depending on customization, such as whether you choose direct cremation or add a viewing, memorial, urn, or other services like flowers or luncheons; nationally, the average for direct cremation is $2,300–$2,500, based on 2025 NFDA data. In the Milwaukee area, direct cremation typically ranges from $2,000–$3,725, with full-service options starting around $4,000 and up, influenced by local permits (e.g., Milwaukee County's $325 fee). At Prasser-Kleczka, we offer transparent pricing with exceptional value, backed by our dedicated staff and on-site crematory for dignified care.

Funeral costs in the Milwaukee area typically range from $6,000 to $12,000, with a local average around $8,000–$10,000 for a full-service funeral, including casket, services, and facilities, while the national average is approximately $7,848–$9,420, based on 2025 industry data. Costs vary depending on personalization, such as caskets, flowers, or luncheons. Prasser-Kleczka provides transparent pricing and high-quality care, ensuring excellent value through our attentive staff and impeccable facilities.

Preplanning relieves your family of decisions and costs during a difficult time; our checklist helps outline preferences like burial vs. cremation, service details, and final disposition. It's revocable and can lock in today's prices. At Prasser-Kleczka, our directors provide compassionate consultations to ensure your wishes—such as military honors or personal touches—are documented securely.

Expect a supportive, one-on-one meeting with a licensed director who listens to your story and guides you through options using our online selection system for caskets/urns, avoiding overwhelming displays. We'll mirror details on a large screen for accuracy and handle paperwork like Social Security or insurance seamlessly. It's a caring process designed to honor your loved one while anticipating your needs.

Yes, we proudly honor veterans with full military rites, including flag presentations, gun salutes, and coordination with the Veterans Affairs for benefits like burial allowances. Whether burial, cremation, or memorial, our team ensures respectful protocols and personalized elements. Contact us to discuss how we can celebrate your loved one's service with the utmost dignity.

At Prasser-Kleczka, our aftercare extends beyond the service with compassionate support, including hand-delivered flowers and register books, follow-up calls to check in, and navigation of benefits like survivor pensions or Social Security. Our free Continuum of Care grief support group, led by compassionate facilitator Kelly Liebenstein, provides a safe, welcoming space for anyone in the community grieving, offering empathy, encouragement, and practical steps for healing, reminding participants they are not alone. Contact us at 414-483-2322 or continuumofcare@pkfuneralhomes.com for the current Continuum of Care schedule. Our staff also offers personalized assistance, connecting families to counseling services or memorial events to support healing, reflecting our commitment to treating your family with unmatched care throughout your grief journey.