Visitors to our shop tend to fall into two broad categories: the pre-planners, and the bereaved. The pre-planners come in to browse, to explore their options, and then to design exactly what they want in a memorial. They are generally cheerful and curious, and often enjoy the creative process. The bereaved, on the other hand, come to us out of need. They are emotionally drained, occasionally even numb, and are faced with the task of trying to imagine what their loved one would have picked out, “if only.” They are often caught between fiscal responsibility and impulse to show their grief with a dramatic purchase. Our hearts go out to them.

We recently were invited to take part in “Funeral Preplanning 101,” an event hosted by Thomas the Apostle Catholic Community Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It was a lovely event, with door prizes and a wide assortment of knowledgeable vendors ready to talk visitors through the various steps of pre-planning. We had the privilege of talking to a number of people about their future plans and considerations, and suggest ways they could lighten the burden on their family at the time of their passing.

Whether you attend a similar event or just stop by our shop with your questions, preplanning your funeral may be the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, we pledge to do our very best to assist your needs, whatever they may be, with sensitivity and care. We are here to help.

As part of our wide product line, Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works offers a large variety of cast concrete figurines. From angels to gargoyles, peaceful doves to fierce dragons, we’ve got it all.

But we often need to remind our customers is that concrete is composed of sand and mortar, and will inevitably crumble away in a few decades or so. These cast decorations can at a wonderfully personal touch, but most cemeteries now have rules requiring the use of solid metal or stone for monuments in order to preserve the memorial for future generations.

The good news is that we can often design just the right monument to reflect your loved one’s interests in passions. A  NASCAR fan can have an image of his favorite car engraved on his stone, and a concrete replica of the car. A cast stepping stone with a comforting message can compliment a head stone designed in the same theme.

If you have any questions about the suitability of various materials and the best way to memorialize your loved one, contact us at Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works. Our friendly and experienced staff will help you select just the right material or combination of materials for your unique memorial.

When you close your eyes and picture a gravestone, what do you see? Probably a tall, slim gothic tablet of stone, suitable for Halloween decorations or a Boot Hill gunslinger. Most modern stones have taken on a thicker, more sturdy shape, but the mental image remains that of a cookie-cutter rectangle of stone, carved with names and dates. At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, one of our goals is to change that mental image.

Our stones are custom-designed to be as uniquely beautiful as the persons they memorialize. Of course we can offer a wide variety of stone textures and colors, from a rough-cut Sienna Red to a highly polished Blue Pearl with its almost opalescent glow. And our shapes run from the basic rectangles to the highly creative teardrops, hearts, mountain tops and teddy bears. We can add small bronze birds or large weeping angels, carve a simple spray of flowers or a complex organizational seal. Best of all, we work with artists to etch intricate designs or life-like portraits, all under your direction.

When you are designing a monument to a loved one, think beyond the basics. Consider the many things which made that person special and unique. Imagine a memorial which truly reflects the spirit of the deceased. And then, call Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works so we can turn your mental image into reality.

If you take a stroll through your local cemetery some pleasant afternoon, you will notice an interesting difference between the memorial stones. Some stand plain and proud, displaying their unchanging tribute to the passing eye. Others seem to be continually evolving, with the flower bulbs of Spring or the patriotic displays of Memorial Day bunting giving way to Summer flower baskets, Fall silks and Winter wreaths. One stone may be decked with stuffed animals or a collection of angel figurines, while another takes its beauty from its classically spartan design.

Whatever your philosophy or family tradition, Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works has the supplies and services to help make it happen. Our wreath holders and floral arrangement vases can be attached firmly to a headstone to ensure your decorations remain secure. We have vigil lanterns for our 7 day candles, and solar-powered vigil lights in a variety of designs. We offer bronze and concrete sculptural ornaments to reflect the interests of your loved one, and a planting service to provide living floral tributes according to your instructions. If you prefer a more simplified approach to your family memorial, we can still provide expert cleaning and re-leveling services to keep that stone looking new. We also offer a selection of flag holders and bronze markers to reflect the service or activities which were important to the deceased.

Stop by our shop today and explore the many ways you can pay tribute to your loved ones. We would be honored to help you express your feelings with a grave-side accessory.

At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, we receive regular questions about what is permitted and what is required in cemeteries. Although there are certain laws governing all cemetery organizations, each cemetery association is also free to establish their own rules within those laws. These rules can be based on the religious beliefs, veteran status, or family traditions of the persons who originally established the cemetery, or on the intended visual impact of the cemetery grounds. One location may limit monuments to only flush or low-profile stones in certain areas, while another may permit headstones or footstones of any size the family sees fit to place. Some cemeteries will require cremated remains to be placed in a concrete vault before burial, while others do not. With over one hundred cemeteries in Sheboygan County alone, it would be difficult for the average customer to keep track of all their guidelines.

As part of our caring, personalized service, we promise to contact the sexton (or manager) of your cemetery to find out exactly what they require. We will make sure that the monument you design for your loved one falls within the cemetery rules, and we will help you explore options for celebrating the individuality of your loved one while complying with those rules.

Stop by our shop to see the many shapes, sizes, and creative possibilities in monument design. We will help you design a stone that won’t give the cemetery organization hiccups and will be as special as the person it commemorates.

At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, we try to reach out to the community in any way we can and tell them about our unique service. We want everyone to know about our customized memorials and dedication to serving our customers’ needs. And we must be doing something right, because we were recently selected by US Bank to be featured as their Business Partner of the Month.

In addition to the visitors we welcome to our shop and our website each day, we were delighted to give bank customers the chance to see the quality and creativity of our work first-hand.  We would like to thank US Bank for the vote of confidence and for the opportunity to educate some of their customers on the topics of memorialization and pre-need planning.

If you missed the chance to see our work on display at US Bank, please remember that we work far beyond “banker’s hours.”  Our shop is open six days per week, and we are happy to set up after-hours appointments according to your needs.  We are here for you.

Losing someone close, someone who has been a major part of your life, will have a huge impact. Grief counselors tell us that shock, anger, depression, or even a feeling of walled-off numbness are normal reactions to the loss of a loved one.  It is important for those who suffer a loss to accept and work through those feelings, rather than to wall them in and try to “be strong.” Give yourself the time to heal, and recognize that you do not need to find peace and reinvent your life on anyone’s schedule but your own.

One of the most important things you can do to regain your balance and adapt to your new life is to express your feelings honestly. Talk to a recorder or a friend. Don’t try to protect your loved ones from your grief, and be strong enough to accept your own weaknesses. Give yourself permission to mourn on your own terms.

Memorials allow us to share our grief in a public way and to express something about the person represented. From memorial t-shirts and candles clustered at an accident site to an elegant granite stone carved with names and dates, we use physical reminders of a life in order to emotionally process its end. A memorial lets those left behind remember that this person lived, and celebrates the impact of that life on those around them.

At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, we try to work with you to make that memorial stone as memorable as possible. We know that a rich and vibrant life existed between the two dates on a stone, and we will work with you to design a memorial to celebrate all the important facets of that life.

Call us or stop by our showroom to talk about all the things which made your loved one special.

As another cold October blows through our lives, we resign ourselves to the coming Wisconsin winter. The leaves which now hang above us in a dazzling display of gold and crimson will soon become moldering piles of grayish-brown, and the flowers which looked so pretty in front of your loved one’s memorial stone just last month will be misshapen sticks by Thanksgiving.

We understand how tough it can be to fit fall clean-up of your family graves into your busy schedule. When you just don’t have time to run out to the cemetery and get rid of the debris, we’re happy to step in.  We can remove the remains of summer plantings and scrub away the accumulation of dirt or moss. We are also happy to add silk blossoms or winter greenery on your behalf, preparing the monument for the seasons to come.

Call our office and ask about our year-round grave maintenance service. You can check one more thing off your list, knowing that we will care for them like family.

A Green Bay Packers garden stone shows your team support.

We all have our passions in life. Our favorite teams, our favorite causes, our favorite pet breeds - we show them off proudly on sweatshirts and car decals, and dangle them from our review mirror. But long after that sweatshirt is worn to tatters, you can display a permanent symbol of your support. Our garden stones provide a solid and eye-catching element to your gardens, porches and shelves. We have stone benches in a wide range of prices which can be laser-etched with team photos or carved with your team’s logo. If your loved one is serving in the military, a mirror etched with their insignia will bring their presence into your daily life.

Whether you cheer for the Green Bay Packers or the Dundee Scottsmen, we can design and carve a garden stone or bench to show your pride. Do you have a fondness for angels or bi-planes or Catahoula Leopard Dogs? We’ve got you covered. Animals, favorite sayings, military or civic organizational logos, or your own design can be carved into stone or etched into glass.

Stop by our showroom today to see some examples of our work and chat with our staff. The only limit is your imagination.

In the continuing effort to win new customers and offer the very best products and service, it is easy for a business to fall into a slogan trap. Cute sayings and catchy phrases look good on billboards, to the point where some companies start to define themselves by those few words. At Sheboygan Monument & Stone Works, we want to escape pre-defined boundaries and discover all the creative ways we can serve our community.

Do you want to have your own stone carved with lettering for a monument, a house marker, a garden stone? We can do that. Do you want a stone bench for a memorial or just to look pretty in the garden? We’re your resource for smooth or rough stone, carved with designs or lettering or anything else you can imagine. We can also sand-blast wood or etch glass, opening up a world of possibilities for decorative and personalized objects. Whether you collect raccoon art or have a fondness for vintage muscle cars, we can help you design mirrors, windows, signs and other items with your own special style.

Of course, we are also your personal resource for monuments and other memorials. Whether you are recently bereaved or are refurbishing a monument for your great-great-grandmother, we can offer the sympathetic service and quick response time you want. We can help you design a monument as unique as the person whose life it celebrates. And with our monument care service, we can even plant the flowers around it year after year.

We are Sheboygan Monument and Stone Works; but the letters on our sign are just the beginning. Bring your creativity to visit, and explore with us all the wonderful ways to express yourself.