Few people wake up one morning and decide they want to help families plan their funerals. For most, it’s a profession they never considered. For Ron Nelson, Advanced Planning Specialist at Piasecki Funeral Home, it became a calling born from one of life’s most difficult experiences.

For more than 20 years, Nelson has guided individuals and families through the often-overlooked process of pre-planning funeral arrangements. His work isn’t about focusing on death. It’s about helping people make thoughtful decisions while they’re healthy, giving their loved ones the gift of clarity, confidence, and peace of mind when they need it most.

Nelson’s journey into funeral service began in 2004 after being beside a close friend during the final stages of his life.

“I had a very good friend that was dying,” Nelson recalls. “I had a chance to walk with him and his family through that entire journey.”

Although losing his friend was heartbreaking, the experience revealed something unexpected.

“It gave me a feeling like I could maybe help other people do something like that,” he says. “Nancy Piasecki was looking for someone to dedicate their time to helping families with pre-planning, so the timing was just great.”

That experience continues to shape the way he approaches every family he serves.

Ask Nelson what his job involves, and he won’t begin by talking about caskets, burial, or cremation.

“The key is actually building relationships with the families and individuals we meet with,” he says. “We’re helping them at what can be a very sensitive time.”

Rather than pushing families toward decisions, Nelson sees himself as an educator and guide.

“I feel fortunate to be able to help them make a lot of decisions ahead of time.”

His goal is to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable discussing topics they may have avoided for years.

“We’re talking about reality, but at the same time we’re becoming friends.”

That relationship often extends far beyond the planning appointment.

“I’ll run into people at the store or at the Pops Concert or community events,” Nelson says. “We remember each other’s names and catch up on what they’ve been up to. Many times they will say ‘Hey, I’m glad I got my funeral plans done and actually had a good time doing it, but I don’t need those services quite just yet.’ We both laugh and know that our relationship is maintained as a friendship.”

Most people understand pre-planning is important, but many continue putting it off or avoiding it altogether.

“It’s human nature,” Nelson says. “We put them off because we don’t want to face it. We think, ‘I’m healthy now. Why should I think about things like that?'”

Unfortunately, waiting often means loved ones are left making dozens of decisions during one of the most emotional moments of their lives.

“There are a lot of things that need to be discussed and determined. If we’re able to help people go through that process now and make educated decisions, that’s good for them and it benefits their family because everyone knows what their wishes are.”

Without a written plan, surviving family members are often left guessing.

“People have heard different things over the years, and nothing was written down. Everybody may have different opinions on what Mom or Dad wanted.”

Those disagreements can create unnecessary stress during an already painful time. Pre-planning removes the uncertainty by clearly documenting a person’s wishes before those decisions become urgent.

Pre-planning doesn’t just reduce emotional stress. It can also help families make more thoughtful financial decisions.

“Funerals can be expensive,” Nelson acknowledges. “By planning ahead, people can make a more educated decision.”

He often sees families who haven’t pre-planned make purchases they wouldn’t otherwise choose simply because they’re grieving.

“It’s referred to sometimes as emotional overspending,” he says. “The kids say, ‘This is the last loving thing we can do for Mom or Dad,’ and they end up spending more money than they really wanted to or what their loved one would have wanted.”

Planning ahead allows individuals to decide for themselves what reflects their values, whether that means a large traditional funeral or something much simpler.

When families complete a pre-plan, they also have the option of funding those arrangements in advance.

“We come up with a plan and establish a very accurate total for all the services agreed upon,” Nelson explains. “I explain the funding for the services can be done in a number of different ways. 

• A lump sum payment at the time we create the plan. 
• Payments made over a set period of time. 
• Or, at the time the services are needed, the amount can come from life insurance benefits, which we discuss when we create the plan.”

Nelson believes one of the most overlooked parts of pre-planning happens after the paperwork is complete. Families receive documentation outlining every decision they made, giving them an opportunity to sit down with children or other loved ones.

“With everything written down, they can then talk to their family and say, ‘This is what we’re looking at doing. These are our wishes.'”

While having those conversations may be difficult to have, they eliminate uncertainty while helping families understand the reasoning behind each decision.

“I’d like to do this as a gift to the family so they don’t have to worry about it when the time arrives.”

Whether the arrangements are prepaid or not, having those discussions means loved ones aren’t left wondering what should be done or how expenses will be handled.

Nelson believes Piasecki Funeral Home’s greatest strength has always been its commitment to relationships.

“It’s always been a family-type funeral home and approach to serving families,” he says. “It’s very important for us to have relationships with the family members.”

That philosophy extends to everyone who walks through the doors, including young children attending a funeral for the first time.

“We don’t want children to be scared,” Nelson explains. “They’re going to always remember that first funeral they attended. They don’t know why they’re there, what they’re doing and they are often confused because there are many very sad adults. So we take special care with the younger ones to help explain what’s going on and why they shouldn’t be scared. It not only helps them now but also helps them in the future when they attend other funerals.”

The funeral home has also maintained a longstanding commitment to supporting local veterans, something Nelson says reflects the values established by Nancy Piasecki.

“It’s very important to us to help the veteran community,” he says. “That’s very near and dear to Nancy Piasecki’s heart, and we keep living out that reality because that’s a part of who we are.”

After 23 years helping families prepare for life’s most difficult moments, Nelson remains just as committed as when he first started.

“I think what helps me is meeting families each and every week. Building relationships; that’s what is so important to me.”

Those relationships also make the difficult days more personal.

“It’s difficult for me when someone does eventually die that I’ve gotten to know over the years. I try to believe the service and what I provided helped make this a little bit gentler on the survivors.”

Outside of work, Nelson and his wife, Beverly, have been married for more than 40 years. Together they enjoy spending time outdoors and, perhaps most importantly, with their two daughters, sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

Nelson is also proud of his 22+ years in the Rotary Club of Kenosha, having served 2 terms as president, with no signs of stopping his involvement with this charitable organization. He also enjoys working and attending the CrossWay Community Church in Bristol, WI, having been an active member for approximately 10 years.

If there’s one thing Nelson wishes every family understood about pre-planning, it’s that the experience isn’t nearly as intimidating as people imagine. For him, pre-planning isn’t about preparing for death. It’s about making life easier for the people we love.

“Our goal is to make sure everyone we meet walks out with the satisfaction that they did the right thing.”

By taking the time to document wishes, discuss options, and make thoughtful decisions today, families are spared uncertainty tomorrow. The result is less stress, fewer difficult decisions, and the confidence of knowing a loved one’s wishes will be honored exactly as intended.

For Ron Nelson, that’s what has kept him passionate for more than two decades. Every conversation is an opportunity to help a family replace uncertainty with peace of mind, and to turn one of life’s hardest moments into a lasting expression of love.

Contact Ron at 262-658-4101 to discuss preplanning funeral arrangements for you or a loved one.