John Klein

John Klein

John Klein

What do you do at Pinnacle? I oversee the day-to-day operations of our 11 firms in Wisconsin. I work closely with Pinnacle President Tony Kumming, from budget preparation and pricing to trends and employees relations. I am also a licensed Funeral Director and assist with all aspects of funeral service, such as funeral arrangements, funerals, memorial services, community events and working in our preparation rooms.


What are you known for professionally? What do you have a knack for? I work closely with my staff in all aspects of funeral service. I believe every position is important to making our families' experiences positive and memorable under the circumstances. It all starts from the first call and continues with the director and support staff. I would never ask anyone to do something I was not willing to do myself.


What are you most passionate about professionally? What most excites you about your work and the contribution you can make? I am most passionate about being behind the scenes and working with my team to accomplish our goals of service and support to families. With nearly three decades of funeral experience, I have a lot to offer, not only serving families, but also recognizing new trends and opportunities to better serve them. I also love working with the community and working local events.  

Who have you worked with in the past? And what have you done for them? I started in funeral service 28 years ago with Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home when it was family owned. I stayed with them under SCI (Service Corporation International) and continued when Pinnacle acquired our group in 2014. I have worked my way up as an Funeral Apprentice, Funeral Director, Location Manager, General Manager to my current position as Regional Director of Operations.


What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? I really enjoy travelling and spending as much time as possible with my children, especially in Sanibel, Florida. In my spare time I have helped manage a haunted house in the Racine County area, working closely with my friends.


Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon? If I am not at work or the haunted house, I am definitely doing something with my children. We go to comic book and toy shows/conventions, concerts, movies, fishing, anything outdoors or near water. I'm also planning our next adventure.


Where did you grow up and why aren’t you there now? I grew up in Milwaukee, not too far from one of our locations, and then in high school my family moved to New Berlin, WI. I started college at the University of Wisconsin Waukesha and then transferred to UW-Whitewater, where I studied Business and Psychology. In my Senior year of college, my friend asked me to apprentice at his family’s firm, Molthen-Bell. After talking it over with my family, I decided to make the switch and attended Milwaukee Area Technical College to pursue my Funeral Director's License, which brought me full circle to my old neighborhoods.


What would be impossible for you to give up? Travelling with my kids and going to the beach. Nothing recharges the soul like spending time with loved ones and being in the sun.

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