Wise Family Funeral & Cremation Services

Michael C. Wise

Owner / Director
michael@wisefamilyfh.com

Michael was born and raised in Hastings. He graduated from Hastings High school in 1990 before attending his first two years of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When deciding on a career in funeral service, he transferred to the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a BS degree in Mortuary Science in 1994. After graduation he worked for a family owned funeral home in Minneapolis/Edina where he managed their Edina Chapel along with his wife Mary. In 2001 Michael moved back home to Hastings to own and operate the Thomas Ellis Funeral Home, known today as Wise Family Funeral & Cremation Services.

Michael and his wife Mary have been married since 1998 and have two children, Grace and Griffin. He is very involved with Civic activities in Hastings. He serves on the board of Directors for many organizations including, The United Way of Hastings; The Hastings Chamber of Commerce; Augustana Nursing Home and Park Ridge Communities; Oak Ridge Manor and the Knights of Columbus. His free time is spent with his family where he enjoys coaching both of his very active children.

Mary Wise

Owner / Vice President
mary@wisefamilyfh.com

Mary was 18 when she started working in the funeral business 17 years ago at a family owned funeral home in South Minneapolis. The years she worked at that funeral home, they served over 2,000 families each year. While working there, she gained a great deal of knowledge about the funeral industry. At such a young age, she was exposed to many different situations which has helped over the years to understand how every family and their situations are unique.

While working at the funeral home she met Michael, they married 2 years later. Together they managed a funeral home in Edina for 2 years. When they decided to start a family, she stayed home with their two children, Grace and Griffin.

When the opportunity came along to purchase the Thomas Ellis Funeral Home, Michael and Mary were thrilled. The opportunity to buy a funeral home in the community where Michael grew up in and loved was a dream come true for both of them. They purchased the business in May of 2001 and moved their family from Minneapolis to Hastings. Their new business venture allowed them to continue doing what they loved and allowed Mary to be home with their children.

Shirley Skarda-Esch

Certified Pre-planning Consultant
shirley@wisefamilyfh.com

Shirley started in the funeral business in 1993. Her goal everyday is educating clients, so they can make informed decisions. Shirley does many charitable events for her favorite charity- the Dakota Community Action Council Food Shelf. She lives in Burnsville with her husband Michael; two cats a dog and assorted fish.

Michael and Shirley are very involved with the community, and make many appearances annually as "Mr. and Mrs. Claus" for public and family events.

Shirley has one grandson with another due in November.

She believes in this philosophy: "A funeral is not a day in a lifetime but a lifetime in a day" --author unknown

Sarah Wise-Schwieger

Office Manager
sarah@wisefamilyfh.com

Sarah was born and raised in Hastings, MN. She is the "little sister" of Michael. She is a graduate of Hastings High School and attended Bethel College. She spent most of her career with the Target Corporation in Minneapolis, before starting a family with her husband Ben Schwieger, also of Hastings. They had their first child, Matthew, in 2006. After starting a family she wanted to have a more flexible career and started working with her brother at the Wise Family Funeral Home. She is a life-long member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and enjoys volunteering at Sharing and Caring Hands.

Ron Clare

Funeral Director's Assistant

Ron and his wife Marie live in Hastings. Ron is retired from a career in financial management and administration. His wife Marie is the financial secretary at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Prescott, WI of which they are also members. Ron participates on the pastoral council and is a lector as well as a Eucharistic Minister. They have a daughter Jen and son-in-law Jesse and two grandchildren. Ron and Marie tragically lost their son, Nick in a car accident in November of 2001. Ron loves spending time at his lake cabin in northern Wisconsin as well as their little house in sunny Arizona. Ron volunteers at Regina Hospital, he also is on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners. He loves running, the stock market, reading and the Minnesota Twins.