“We'll continue the way Bill would have wanted it done.”
That's the message for the Milford and Friend communities from Doug Wymore, who is now funeral director and manager of Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services. He was named to the position by Whitney Chrisman, who assumed the role of president of the company following the death of her father, Bill Lauber.
A plane crash in Oklahoma March 17 took the lives of Lauber, his wife, Christy, and daughter, Regan.
“This business meant the world to Bill,” said Wymore. “He cared for his friends and customers…a lot. I want to follow through the way he would have.”
Wymore will be joined in operating the business by Dennis Svoboda, who will be the crematory operator. They and the business will honor any past and future contracts for funeral services.
Colton Chrisman, Whitney's husband, said she wanted to see the business continue after her father had the foresight to arrange a smooth transition should something happen to him.
“We thank God for Doug and Dennis that they were here to keep things going,” Chrisman said. “We're sure they will carry on and continue to serve the communities as Bill had hoped and dreamed of.”
He added that the remodeling project at the business location in Friend – which Christy had designed – will continue and is expected to be completed in about 60 days.
Having started working in a funeral home when he was in junior high school, Wymore brings a wealth of experience with him to the business.
He received recognition for being a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 40 years at a recent convention in Lincoln.
Similar to Bill Lauber, Wymore has held positions on state- and national-level funeral director's associations.
Wymore said he had known Lauber for about 30 years and went to work for him in 2010. He left the business for a time to deal with some health issues, but returned in the fall of 2021.
He added that people were welcome to come by the facility and meet himself and Svoboda.
“If anybody just wants to stop by and visit and see the facilities, we would welcome it,” Wymore said.
