Full History

Mr. Englund built a new funeral home at 904 Lake Avenue in 1935 and operated the two businesses separately. In 1944, the businesses were purchased by John B. (Jack) Ferrin and Ralph W. Lindemann, who later sold the funeral home to Ross and Clara Donehower in 1950. 

The Donehowers were joined in business by Wayne and Vivienn Lance in April 1955, and the firm was known as the Donehower-Lance Funeral Home until 1959 when Mr. Lance left the firm to become Detroit Lakes City Finance Officer. Another major change occurred two years later, when both Detroit Lakes funeral homes sold their ambulances to Robert and Elaine Arnold, who founded Detroit Lakes Ambulance Service (now St. Mary's E.M.S.). 

In 1971, Mr. Donehower hired David Karsnia, who had recently graduated from the mortuary science program at the University of Minnesota. When Mr. Karsnia left Detroit Lakes in 1975 to move to Sauk Centre, Ernest Gieseke joined the firm. Mr. Donehower retired in 1981 and sold the firm to Mr. Gieseke and Mr. Karsnia, who then returned to Detroit Lakes. In 1984, the Giesekes sold their interest in the funeral home to Mr. Karsnia.

In 1985, the name of the firm was changed to David-Donehower Funeral Home. In 1997, Mr. Karsnia sold the firm to Thomas M. Vertin, a long-time funeral director from Breckenridge, Minnesota. Mr. Karsnia continued to manage the firm. In 2006, David-Donehower lost a good friend and co-worker when Alec Burnside passed away. 

Today, David-Donehower Funeral & Cremation Service is proud to provide the same level of professional, caring service the Detroit Lakes area has known for over a hundred years.