Watertown Memorial Team
Friendly service
Our Team
Watertown Memorial Co Inc. is a 5 generation company. We are proud of our heritage and serving the great people of Wisconsin for over 100 years. We believe we are doing a valuable work and take it very seriously.
John Block Jr.
Owner
The current owner of Watertown Memorial Co., Inc. His dedication to the industry has led him to become a Certified Memorialist. This is the highest professional designation in the memorial industry and he is the only one in Southeastern Wisconsin. With this designation comes the commitment to remain knowledgeable about industry advancements and the desire to provide quality workmanship and customer satisfaction for his customers. John is a fourth generation owner and believes that a small business can remain strong in a community as long as it provides value and quality to its customers.
Chuck Block
Shop Manager
Shop and Field Operations Manager, John’s son is the fifth generation to be involved in the memorial business. It’s Chuck’s intention to learn as much as possible from the generations before him to continue and grow the family business.
Karen Theder
Office Manager
Our Office Manager and Memorial Consultant. Karen began working for The Blocks part time in 2000 but is now here full-time to assist customers in any way she can.
Melissa Block
Lead Designer
Melissa is our lead designer for cemetery memorials and other engraved products. She is also Chuck’s wife and is involved in many other aspects of the family business.
Watertown Memorial History
(Left to right) John Block Sr., retired but still visits with us several times a week. Chuck Block joined the family business after graduating college and currently wears the hats of both Shop and Field Operations Manager. Ernie Block was the 2nd generation of Blocks in the company. Finally, John Block Jr. is the current owner.
Watertown Memorial Co., Inc. has been owned and operated by the Block family for five generations. John Block went into business with Frank Odgers selling cemetery memorials in the late 1800’s and eventually purchased his partner’s share. John Block’s sons; Ted and Ernie then began working in the business as well. John Block, Sr., Ernie’s son, started in the 1950’s and worked with his father and uncle eventually taking over operations.
John Jr. has worked at Watertown Memorial Co., Inc. since 1970 when he was in high school. He learned stone cutting, foundation work, memorial setting and everything in between. He now owns and operates the business. Chuck Block, John Jr.’s son, is the current Shop and Field Operations Manager and is learning everything he can about the memorial business.
The continuity of knowledge and experience through so many years and so many generations makes our team highly qualified to do a great job on your memorial project.
Originally located across the street from our current location, the photo (far left) is the oldest photo we have of the shop. The first generation John Block is pictured in it on the far right. In the photo on the right we’re loading a rail shipment of granite at the Chicago and Northwestern yard in Watertown, Wisconsin.
