Molthen-Bell Contributes $10,000 to Help Immortalize The Crusher 

South Milwaukee’s most famous native son just got one step closer to achieving the kind of immortal greatness often reserved for war generals.

Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home on Thursday donated $10,000 to an initiative dedicated to erecting a statue of Hall of Fame professional wrestler Reggie Lisowski, better known as The Crusher.

The blond-haired, blued-eye buff Polish athlete worked from the 1940s until the 1980s, and was admired by tens of thousands of fans around the country and in Canada. However, none were more supportive than the place from which he came.

Lisowski grew up and made his home in South Milwaukee, and his wrestling persona lionized the blue-collar worker. He died in 2005 at the age of 79, but he is in no way forgotten. Proudly, his funeral services were performed by Molthen-Bell & Son.

Fans still flock to his grave at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Cudahy. However, one fan, Chris Smith, a 39-year-old lawyer, thinks Lisowski deserves a more fitting tribute – a bronze statue of “Da Crusher” on Milwaukee Avenue.

“We knew Da Crusher, grew up with him in this community, and he made us proud,” said John Klein, general manager of Molthen-Bell Funeral Home. “We’re never going to forget him, and the statue will be a reminder of the come-uppance of the common man.”

Smith, who seems too young to be a fan, added in his own gravelly imitation, “Stereotypical Milwaukee guy, a factory worker, a bricklayer. I'm strong. I'm tough. I'm blue collar. I drink beer. I do the polka.”

Klein immediately liked the idea and put his company’s support behind it. The $40,000 funding goal for the statue is now on track, with municipal regulatory hurdles and design considerations up next.

Molthen-Bell has family and business roots that span more than a century in South Milwaukee. As a pillar of the community, the funeral home often looks for ways to work with local organizations, charities and families to make life better for area residents.

For more info, please call (414) 762-0154. We serve South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Cudahy, St. Francis and Wind Point.

By Stacy Smith, Licensed Funeral Director August 17, 2026
At Molthen-Bell Funeral Home, supporting our community means honoring the people who have dedicated their lives to serving others. This summer, we were proud to continue one of our favorite annual traditions by welcoming local veterans and their families to our fourth annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner. Approximately 30 guests joined us at the funeral home for an evening centered on good food, music, conversation and, most importantly, gratitude. An Evening Dedicated to Our Veterans Our Veterans Appreciation Dinner began four years ago with a simple purpose: to give back to the veterans, military members, and families who have sacrificed so much for our country and our communities. Each year, we have been grateful to welcome veterans and their loved ones through our doors, not during a time of loss, but for an opportunity to gather, connect and celebrate their service. Members of the Molthen-Bell team, including Nick Schilling, Lisa Comp Manley, Samantha Carlos, Israel Willingham, Amber Wallermann and Bryce Vuckovich, were honored to spend the evening with our guests and hear their stories. While this year's attendance was smaller than in previous years, likely due in part to an air quality advisory related to area fires, the evening was no less meaningful. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who was able to join us. An Unexpected Honor One moment from this year's dinner made the evening particularly special. During the event, representatives from American Legion Post 27 in South Milwaukee surprised our team by presenting Molthen-Bell Funeral Home with a plaque recognizing our support and generosity toward local veterans. We had no idea the recognition was coming, which made the moment even more meaningful. To be recognized by the very people we gathered to honor was incredibly humbling. We are deeply grateful to American Legion Post 27 for this unexpected honor and, even more so, for the opportunity to continue supporting the veterans in our community. A Tradition We Are Proud to Continue Over the past four years, the Veterans Appreciation Dinner has become much more than an annual event for our team. It is a tradition that reflects what Molthen-Bell Funeral Home believes community service should be about: showing up, building relationships, and expressing gratitude to those who have given so much. The feedback we receive each year from veterans and their families reminds us why we continue to host this gathering. Hearing that our guests feel appreciated and valued makes every moment worthwhile. We are already looking forward to welcoming our veterans and their families back next year.  To all veterans, active-duty military members, and military families: thank you for your service, your sacrifices, and the example you set for our community. It is our privilege to honor you.
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