Klesel retires after 50 years at local funeral home

Mark Klesel poses outside the funeral home last Thursday. Sticker Photo By Darrell Vyvjala
Mark Klesel poses outside the funeral home last Thursday. Sticker Photo By Darrell Vyvjala

Area families have entrusted the care of their loved ones to a member of the Klesel family at Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home for over 70 years.

For the last 50 of those, Mark Klesel attended to final rites alongside his father and brother and, most recently, a nephew. On Feb. 28, he directed his last funeral with his son, Cullen, on hand to help out.

The eldest son of the late Bill and Dolly Klese…