After more than 28 years in the village, Bob Wilk, owner of Sherman Wilk Funeral Home, 135 South St., says it’s time for a change.
In August, Waterford-based Coats Funeral Home will take over operations of his business, which Wilk has owned for many years.
‘I’m getting older,? said Wilk, 62, who was recently honored by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association for 40 years of service. ‘I’ll stay with the business here in town for the next three years’then it’s retirement. The Coats family are wonderful people and the third generation in the funeral home business. They have a fine operation down in Waterford and will be a great asset to Ortonville.?
Charles F. Sherman founded the funeral home in 1947, the first funeral ‘home? in Ortonville. Prior to this, funeral wakes were held in the deceaseds? homes, according to village records. In 1980, Robert and Barbara Wilk purchased the funeral home from Dorothy and Charles Sherman and changed the name to Sherman Wilk Funeral Home.
Heather Coats, of Coats Funeral Home, said the transition will begin later this summer.
‘We’ll come and make a few improvements to the building both inside and out,? said Coats. ‘We will be very supportive of the Ortonville community and work to establish the business in the area. I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for Ortonville.?
Coats Funeral Home was established in 1925 by Robert H. Coats in Detroit. The funeral home served families until 1956. In 1950, Leonard Coats, Robert’s son, opened the Drayton Plains branch of Coats Funeral Home which later became the Waterford branch. Leonard and his son, Robert M. Coats remained active in the business for many years.
Robert Coats has now retired and turned the family business over to his daughters, Heather Coats and Heidi Frobel. Details: 248-674-0461.