Wilbert Corporate

Industry Leader

Wilbert Funeral Services Inc. is the industry leader in burial vaults and related products. The privately-held company has a heritage of product innovation dating back to 1880. At the young age of 18, German immigrant Leo Haase created L.G. Haase Manufacturing Company to make concrete products – including the very first concrete burial vaults in the United States. At that time, burial vaults were built of brick right in the graves at cemeteries. Leo thought they should have covers and began building two-piece concrete vaults, precursors of the vaults Wilbert manufactures today.

In 1913, Wilbert W. Haase assumed leadership of L.G. Haase Manufacturing Company at the age of 21 and began an ambitious plan to grow the company’s burial vault business, investing in buildings and equipment. It was a prescient strategy, as demand soon skyrocketed for its products with the great influenza pandemic sweeping the world in 1918-1919. Chicago was hit hard with more than 8,500 flu-related deaths in a span of 8 weeks. Only L.G. Haase Manufacturing had sufficient inventory and manufacturing capacity to meet the demand. He led the company on a path of growth through a simple credo: provide innovative, reliable products that protect loved ones with dignity.

Wilbert Funeral Services also provides an extensive line of cremation products.

Service is equally important in this industry. Funeral directors, cemeterians and ultimately the families that are served rely on Wilbert licensees to deliver and set up the vault at the grave site in a timely, professional manner, helping to create a dignified, respectful service...