Our History

GOING BACK IN TIME

Our History

The story of Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home is one of family and community — a legacy of compassion that has served South Milwaukee families for more than a century.

It began in 1916, when Simon Rosenblatt opened a small funeral home on Milwaukee Avenue. His daughter, Rose, married Anthony Molthen, a hardworking industrial painter whom Simon personally trained in funeral service before blessing their union.

By the mid-1920s, the families built a new funeral home at 700 Milwaukee Avenue — the same location where Molthen-Bell & Son continues to serve today. Anthony and Rose dedicated their lives to caring for others, and their son, Anthony Jr., joined the business, eventually taking the lead in 1940.

After Anthony Sr.’s passing, Rose continued the family legacy with grace and strength. Their daughter Antoinette and her husband, Raphael Bell, later expanded the business, inspiring the name Molthen-Bell and overseeing major renovations in 1965.

In 1990, Anthony G. Molthen and Jeff Bell carried the tradition forward, followed by fourth-generation family member Cory Stephens. Today, Molthen-Bell & Son continues to serve South Milwaukee families with the same care, compassion, and integrity that began more than a century ago.