Established over 120 years ago, our family business has evolved during the course of our history. Here’s a brief overview of our key developments:
Master joiner Wilhelm Lehmkuhl sets up the funeral home in Bahnhofstraße, where he also crafts coffins.
After the first world war, his son Wilhelm Lehmkuhl Jr joins his carpentry and cabinet-making business.
Wilhelm Knopf, the grandson of the company founder, commences his carpentry apprenticeship, which he completes three years later.
The family business becomes the Lehmkuhl & Knopf Carpenters, Joiners, Furniture Dealers, Insurance and Funeral Company.
Wilhelm Knopf joins the company as his father’s business partner. The company is renamed Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen and now focuses on funerals and insurance to deliver a contemporary, professional service.
Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen becomes a member of the Association of German Undertakers in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Wilhelm Knopf Jr., master funeral director and embalmer takes over the company.
Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen is awarded the seal of the Association of German Undertakers on 16 April.
Anja Knopf joins the company as a qualified funeral director.
Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen is awarded certification and admitted to the TrauerOase quality association.
The company is awarded DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 certification. The effectiveness of our quality management system is audited annually and has never been a cause for complaint.
Construction of Casa Vitam Admittamus is decided.
The new funeral home reaches completion and the company moves in. Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen becomes a member of the network of qualified funeral directors (www.gute-bestatter.de).
Wilhelm Knopf Bestattungen and Hülsdonk und Partner Architects are commended in the funeral industry architecture competition “Trauer braucht Raum! Architektur in der Bestattungsbranche”. The award is presented by the German Advisory Board for Funeral Culture (Kuratorium Deutsche Bestattungskultur e.V.), the Association of Interior Architects (BDIA) in North-Rhine Westphalia, and the German architecture journal ‘deutsche bauzeitung’.