Jonas Zahn, founder of Northwoods Casket Co., said he has always been interested in recycling, repurposing and sustainability. His caskets, like the metal-free Simple Pine Box, are made with Wisconsin-sourced wood.

By Sara Bredesen | Regional Editor

In 2004, when Jonas Zahn’s grandfather died, the family couldn’t decide between cremation and burial. Cost was a significant factor for the thrifty farm family, so Zahn volunteered to work with his father and sister to build a cowboy-style casket reminiscent of the old Westerns that his grandfather loved.

“It was the first time I had ever thought of making a casket,” Zahn said.

That very moving shared family experience inspired Zahn to start his own company providing simple pine boxes and environmentally friendly wood caskets for families who wanted choices. Today, Northwoods Casket Co., based in Beaver Dam, markets to about 200 funeral homes in the Midwest.

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