About Us
About Us
Kolbus Funeral Home was erected in 1955 by John and Elsie Kolbus. Since then, the building has gone through many changes and newly updated in 2006. John V. May Funeral Home was erected in 1909 by John V. May. Some of the original building structure was constructed from the Worlds Fair held in Chicago. Since then, the May Family has helped many families plan for their loved ones' funerals. Faced with hard financial times and the changing neighborhood, the building was closed in 2005 and the business was moved and consolidated with Kolbus Funeral Home on Higgins Ave.
A Past Tradition of Service in Jefferson Park
In December of 2005, an important piece of history was destroyed when the building at 4553 N. Milwaukee Avenue was demolished. This structure had been the place of business for the John V. May Funeral Home for over 80 years. Between 1914 and 2004, more people passed through the John V. May Funeral Home on the way to their final resting place than any other funeral home in the area.
John V. May, born in 1888, was a lifelong resident of Chicago. The 1910 Census records indicate that he lived in Jefferson Park with his 56-year-old father, John Sr., and his mother, Kate. At this time, May Jr. was most likely working with his father at a delicatessen at 4357 N. Milwaukee Avenue, which the family operated until 1914.
In 1914, May Jr. became an undertaker and opened a business at 4783 N. Milwaukee Avenue. His father ran an auto livery at the same location. The undertaking business was much different back then; a chapel for viewing was not needed because the clients were woken in their homes.
By 1920, May Jr. had married. He and his wife, Elizabeth May (nee Balke), lived at the same address as their undertaker business, 5324 W. Lawrence Avenue. Elizabeth May was active in Our Lady of Victory sodality and was a member of the Jefferson Park Camp of the Royal Neighbors of America, a women’s organization that held their meetings at the Wilson Park Fieldhouse.
Business for the Mays must have been good because they had a servant, 39-year-old George Keiling, living with them. George most likely also helped out with the business. There were many undertakers competing with May for customers, and one was right around the corner. W. P. Henry was an undertaker who set up shop at 4877 N. Milwaukee Avenue. In 1923, 21 year-old M. J. Suerth set up shop at 4407 N. Elston Avenue.
In order to set himself apart from the other undertakers, May decided to purchase his own building—a building large enough to hold a viewing and to accommodate many mourners: a funeral home. May was one of the first to offer an alternative place for the wake outside private homes. In 1922, he and his wife moved into the building that was located at 4553 N. Milwaukee Avenue, and it was used as their business as well as their home.
According to Robert Schubbe and Andrew Mickelson, May Funeral Home employees for 40+ and 50+ years respectively, the funeral home’s interior was decorated with wood beams originally shipped from the Black Forest in Germany and later taken from the German Pavilion at Chicago’s Century of Progress in 1934. Jim May said these solid beams supported the roof and were added in the mid 1930’s in a building addition. Another long-time employee, Ken Vonderohe, explained that these solid wood beams needed to be oiled to maintain them.
A 12” x 12” Tapestry depicting German scenes hung on the south wall of the funeral home. While the origins of this tapestry are unknown, Vonderohe said it had been stored in the basement when employees found it and put it on the wall. It is very possible that it was made in Germany, but it is not known if it also came from the 1934 World’s Fair.
Elizabeth died on May 7, 1953 and John died on July 8, 1965. Both are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in River Grove.
May, who had no children, left behind an estate that was estimated at 1.5 million dollars. His will had 53 specific bequests, including $100,000 to relatives and friends and $50,000 to charities. They will also call for 1,850 shares in his business to go to five of his employees. The rest of his estate was divided amongst his brother Anthony and four sisters, Clara Werhane, Mamie Winter, Irene Olsen, and Margaret Werhane.
In the years after 1965, many people helped run the funeral home; Archie Price, John Toenings, Robert Schubbe, Jim May, Andrew Mickelson, and Ken Vonderohe were some of the long-term employees of the corporation. In 1998, the company was sold to Service Corporation International, the largest national funeral home company in America. Service Corporation International closed the John V. May Funeral Home in April 2005 and sold the building. The building was torn down in December 2005.
Not far from Jefferson Park, the name John V. May joins the name Kolbus at a John V. May – Kolbus Funeral Home & Cremation Service at 6857 W. Higgins Road. Undoubtedly, the May name still has great value, as the neighborhood funeral home was a fixture on Milwaukee Avenue and faithfully served the area for 90 years.
Courtesy of Frank Suerth
The Jefferson Park Historical Society
www.jeffersonparkhistory.org
