By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

BELOIT -- Brian Mark, the new owner of Schoenfeld-Mark Funeral Home, 1000 E. Inman Parkway, Beloit, hopes to offer friendly funeral services from a business with a long tradition in the community.

"Our most important function is to plan and carry out an exceptional and meaningful funeral services that will uplift, enlighten and warm the heart," Mark said.

While ownership of the firm is changing, operations will remain the same, and the funeral home still will be a locally owned business. Mark has taken over the Beloit home as well as the Schoenfeld location at 504 Milwaukee Road, Clinton.

The Schoenfeld family has a long history in Beloit. Otto and Ethel Schoenfeld founded the Schoenfeld Funeral Home in Clinton in 1935. Because of their commitment to the community, Mark said their business prospered.

In 1961 the Schoenfeld's son, Allen, joined the business. Allen Schoenfeld eventually partnered with Bob Chilson in Beloit until Bob's retirement in 1974. Allen Schoenfeld designed and built the current funeral home on Inman Parkway in 1980.

Recently Allen decided to retire and sold both funeral homes to the Marks. Allen Schoenfeld plans to be available in the future to assist on funerals as needed.

Schoenfeld Funeral Director Steve Mitchell moved to Florida this fall, so Mark will give personalized service to about 100 families a year. The Schoenfeld support staff will remain at the business.

Mark, originally from Lake Zurich, Ill., was pleased with the layout of the building. It has plenty of parking space and is well designed for holding funerals.

Mark attended Loyola University in Chicago for business and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in marketing. After Loyola he had a variety of jobs at the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Bank and Anheuser-Busch.

He had some friends in the mortuary business. After losing his father at age 21, he realized how important the funeral home business is. He then managed three funeral homes in the Appleton, Wis. area until he decided he wanted to own a funeral home.

Mark said he had decided to dedicate his life to funerals.

"Funerals exist for the living, for survivors who suffer heartbreaking loss," Mark said.

Although funerals can be heartbreaking, Mark is working with new trends in the industry such as creating more openness with more friendly sights and sounds.

"Funeral services change so much and consumer preferences continue to change and I hope to be on the forefront of that," Mark said.

Mark and his wife, Diane, have three children - Avery, 7, and Griffin, 5, and Charlotte, 3. They also have a pug mutt named Pancho.

For more information contact Schoenfeld at (608)362-2000.