Roper&Sons

Roper & Sons opened its doors in December 1901, when Charles H. Roper began offering funeral services with Charles Beecher. The two eager partners opened their first facility at 124 South 13th Street – at the point from which streetcars chartered for funerals began their journey down “O” Street’s muddy paths to Wyuka Cemetery.

Today Roper & Sons continues to uphold Charles H. Roper’s commitment to serving the community as well as keeping the business in the hands of family. The business is now managed by Bill Roper, president; Charles Roper, chairman of the board; Mark Roper and Dean Schneider, vice presidents; and Tom Roper, general manager.

Now, in our second century of service, Roper & Sons is comprised of three primary service divisions:

Funeral services
Resource & outreach services
Pre-planning services

Staff | Awards & Recognition | Associations & Affiliations

Staff

We are here to serve you. Contact a staff member by clicking on their email link below and write them an email, or use our contact form.

The Roper Family

William “Bill” Roper
President / Funeral Director
3rd Generation owner
43 years of experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Wife – Judy; Children – Kent, Kerri, Kris, and Jenny

Organizations/Memberships: Westminster Presbyterian Church; Gateway Sertoma; Lions Club; Northeast Rotary; Hickman Lodge #256 AF & AM; Scottish Rite; Sesostris Temple of the Shrine; Royal Order of Jesters

Charles “Pooch” Roper
Chairman of the Board / Funeral Director
3rd Generation owner
55 Years of experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Sons – Scott, Craig, Mark, and Tom

Organizations/Memberships: First Plymouth UCC; Masons; Scottish Rite; Royal Order of Jesters; Executive Club; American Legion Post #3; Hillcrest Country Club
Interests include hunting, fishing and golf.

Tom Roper
tom@roperandsons.com
General Manager / Funeral Director
4th Generation owner and son of Charles & Glenna
21 years of experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Daughters – Elizabeth and Alexa

Organizations/Memberships: First Plymouth UCC; Hickman Masonic Lodge #256 AF & AM; Sesostris Temple of the Shrine; Scottish Rite; Royal Order of Jesters #118; BPOE Lodge #80

Mark W. Roper
Vice-President / Funeral Director
4th Generation owner and son of Charles & Glenna.
21 years experience at Roper & Sons

Mark has been involved in funeral service since 1986. He strongly believes in the value of open casket viewing. In 2007 and 2008, Mark received his specialized training in post mortem reconstructive surgery at the Fountain National Academy, in Springfield, Missouri. Seeing the need to give families the opportunity to view loved ones, Mark performs reconstructive surgery for individuals of severe trauma thereby giving families the option of an open casket.

Family: Wife – Cheryl; Children – Allison and Joseph

Background: Music degree in Performing Arts

Organizations/Memberships: Grace Chapel PCA; Lincoln Lodge #19 AF & AM; Scottish Rite; Sesostris Temple of the Shrine; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; D-Mort 7 Federal Disaster Mortuary Team, Boy Scouts of America.

My goal in the funeral business is to provide families with the very best funeral service that they deserve. Interests include being with the kids, exhausting workouts, classical music enthusiast, Geocaching, (a global positioning system game), and Rubik's Cubing.

Dean R. Schneider
dean@roperandsons.com
Vice-President / Funeral Director
13 Years of experience as a Funeral Director at Roper & Sons

Family: Wife – Jill; Children – Sydney and Austin

Organizations/Memberships: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; Sons of American Legion; Editor and Publisher of the "Schneider Gazette"; Member of Rotary International Club #14; Knights of Columbus; Sierra Club.

Our Funeral Directors

D. Dwight Wright
Funeral Director
53 years total career experience with 39 years of service at Roper & Sons

Family: Children – Tim and Mary; Grandchildren – Andrew and Emily

Organizations/Memberships: Sheridan Lutheran Church; Lancaster Lodge #54 AF & AM; Cotner Lodge #297 AF & AM; Lincoln Scottish Rite Bodies; Sesostris Temple of the Shrine; Sesostris Chanters & Sesostris Greeters; Lincoln Downtown Rotary Club #14 - Paul Harris Fellow; Lincoln, Nebraska, and National Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution; American Legion Post #3; Iowa, Nebraska and National Funeral Directors Association

Steve Olson
steve@roperandsons.com
Funeral Director
33 years total career experience with 8 years at Roper & Sons and 19 years at Metcalf’s

Family: Wife – Cheryl; Children: son – Leif, son & daughter-in-law – Erik & Jerica, daughter – Krystal, and first grandson, Jackson

Background: Native of Ceresco, Nebraska; Graduate of Raymond Central High School and the University of Central Oklahoma

Organizations/Memberships: Lincoln Berean Church; Kiwanis Club of Lincoln; TeamMates; mentor; member and Past Master – Comet Lodge #229 and member and Commander – Sons of American Legion, both of Ceresco. Steve is past president of District 2 of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association.

Clarence Meister
Clockmaker and retired Funeral Director with 47 years of experience

Family: Wife – Jacqueline; Children – Barb, Marty, and Jack; Granddaughter – Molly

Organizations/Memberships: Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church; Sunrise Optimist Club; Lincoln Civic Chorus; "Honorary Latvian"

Bill Cicmanec
cisco@roperandsons.com
Funeral Director
30 years total career experience; Funeral home owner/manager for 16 years prior to coming to Roper & Sons.

Family: Wife - Peggy; children: daughter – Sara, sons – Sean and Joe

Background: Native of Ord, Nebraska; granduate of Ord High School. Attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln; graduate Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.

Organizations/Memberships: St. Leo's Church; enjoys time with family, traveling, camping and fishing.

Our Advance Planning Staff

Dale Foster
dale@roperandsons.com
Family Service Manager
6 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Son – Landon

Background: Associates Degree, Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC). Dale has been helping families with their funeral needs since 1994.

Organizations/Memberships: Syracuse Baptist Church. Enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering with church activities, traveling, hiking, and gardening.

Angela Hammond
angela@roperandsons.com
Family Service Consultant
3 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Husband – Leon; daughters – Maura and Renee.

Organizations/Memberships: Board of Directors, North 27th Street Business and Civic Organization. Is an avid gardener and enjoys volunteer work.

Our Professional Staff

Debbie Way
debbie@roperandsons.com
Director of Community Outreach
Certified Life Celebrant
6 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Daughters & Son-in-law – Erin and Janis, Sara; Son & Daughter-in-law – Jeff and Kim; Grandsons – Caleb, Ethan, Jaxon, and Blake; Granddaughters – Eva, Ella, and Zoe

Background: Debbie is a lifelong Lincoln resident with an extensive background in program development; including marketing and public relations. Former positions include retirement community manager, advertising and marketing account executive, website development coordinator, and customer service manager.

Organizations/Memberships: Lincoln End-of-Life Coalition Executive Committee; Women Business Owners Network; trained hospice volunteer; trained grief and loss program facilitator and trainer

Bonnie Pratt
bonnie@roperandsons.com
Life Celebrant, Marketing Director

Family: Husband – Frank Pratt V; Stepson – Frank Pratt VI; Son – Marcus Winans. Youngest of 12 kids from her central Minnesota, German-Catholic family.

Background: After living in Minnesota, Oregon, and Wisconsin, Bonnie has called Lincoln, Nebraska, home for the past 10 years. After experiencing first-hand the long and painful death of her brother from brain cancer, she left her newspaper marketing career and is now a Life Celebrant for Roper and Sons. Her mother, Helen, has endured Alzheimer’s for 16 years, under the tender care of her dad, Melvin. It is her mission to honor all roles and relationships, to encourage memory preservation, and to celebrate life in every capacity.

Organizations/Memberships: Sheridan Lutheran Church hospital ministry; Morley Elementary PTO.

Cindy Wilson
cindy@roperandsons.com
Office Manager
15 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Daughters & son-in-law – Kelly & Gabe Robertson, Angie & Brad Marshall; Granddaughter – Alyssa Jo

Background: Originally from Hastings, Nebraska, Cindy attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Hastings Central Community College.

Organizations/Memberships: Lifetime member of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Bill Coffey
Facility Manager
7 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Wife – Kay; Children – Lori and Joe; Grandchildren – Megan, Bryant, Sam, Ben, Lucas, and Logan

Organizations/Memberships: St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Interests include fishing and spending time with his grandchildren

Liz Howerter
liz@roperandsons.com
Financial Services
15 years experience at Roper & Sons

Family: Husband – Scott; Sons – Taylor, Joseph and Eric; Daughter – Hannah.

Background: BA from the UNL College of Business; Lincoln Southeast High School.

Organizations/Memberships: St. Michael's Catholic Church; Kappa Alpha Theta House Corporation Board; Lincoln Country Club.

Kaytlyn Naranjo
kaytlyn@roperandsons.com
Creative Director

Family: Parents, Dan and Korinna Naranjo of All Faiths Funeral Home, Grand Island. Brother, Dylan Naranjo.

Background: Originally from Grand Island, Nebraska. Attended Southeast Community College

Organizations/Memberships: Big Brothers Big Sisters, attend Grace Chapel Church.

Our Counseling Staff

Roper & Sons is pleased to be associated with Orr Psychotherapy Resources. All of the following are professional master level counselors with an interest in helping individuals and families with grief resolution due to the death of a loved one. In addition to providing counseling services to the families we serve they also facilitate our Grief Support Groups. For more information about Roper & Sons grief support services provided by Orr Psychotherapy Resources, please contact Debbie Way with Roper & Sons at 476-1225. To learn more about Orr Psychotherapy Resources please visit their website at: http://orrpsychotherapy.com.

Christopher Orr
Family Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Children, Adolescents. Certified and trained in hypnosis for smoking cessation, weight management, habit control and habit elimination.

Robert Troyer
Marriage and family counseling, adolescents and children, coping with depression and anxiety, critical incident stress debriefing, anger and behavior management, addictions, sexual abuse issues, self-esteem issues.

Addie Lee
Relationship concerns including abuse, improving problem solving and negotiation skills for families and couples. Medical family therapist specializing in working with individuals, families, who have chronic pain, life-changing illnesses, injuries and particular interest and training in diabetes.

Larry Crippen
Christian counseling, marriage counseling, parenting issues, grief and loss, coping with anxiety, and depression issues including critical incident stress debriefing.

Leslie Crawford
Medical concerns and physical well-being, mental illness in adults, adolescents and youth including ADHD, parenting children with special needs, issues of the older adult including care-giving and issue of family members, relationship issues including codependency, addiction and recovery, coping with change, recovery from victimization and increasing self-esteem.

Our Staff Associates

John Andrews – Funeral Associate
Bob Butcher – Funeral Associate
Scott Edstrom – Funeral Associate
DeLoyd Larsen – Funeral Associate
Lloyd Orth – Funeral Associate
Haley Heiman – Funeral Associate
Justin Wozny – Apprentice
Paul Seger – Funeral Associate
Jennifer Clark – Funeral Associate
Brandon Jensen – Funeral Associate
Liz Howerter – Financial Services
Chase Carraher – Funeral Associate
Donna Saylor – Reception / Catering Coordinator
Mary Borin – Reception / Catering Coordinator
Wilma Sundeen – Staff Musician

Awards and Recognition

2002 Outstanding Small Business of the Year Award –
Presented by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

The Small Business Of The Year Award honors a business which best exemplifies the spirit of free enterprise in Lincoln. Roper & Sons was recognized for their risk taking, innovation and for strengthening community spirit.

2002 Integrity Award –
Presented by the Better Business Bureau of Lincoln

The Better Business Bureau Integrity Award honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and communities; adherence to truthful and honorable advertising and sales practices; and an earned reputation for noteworthy contributions to their industries and the communities in which they do business. The Award is intended to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that our country's marketplace remains fair and honorable for all consumers.

As recipient of the BBB Integrity Award, Roper & Sons was:

Recognized for their commitment to maintaining a culture that consistently sets exceptionally high standards of behavior in buyer and seller relationships.
Spotlighted for their commitment to the importance of corporate conscience and responsibility in fulfilling a company's obligation to the marketplace to do what is right and fair.
Honored among the business community that adhering to Better Business Bureau ethical standards is the hallmark of successful, competitive companies.

2002 Community Service Award –
Presented by Lincoln Aging Services RSVP Program

Roper & Sons was honored to receive the Community Service Award in recognition of their efforts to support Aging Services Retired & Senior Volunteer Program and community service in Lincoln/Lancaster County.

Associations and Affiliations

Roper & Sons is proud to be an active member of:

Selected Independent Funeral Homes – Is a worldwide professional association of more than 1,500 independently owned funeral homes. Members operate under the strictest standards and best practices to offer you confidence and preserve your trust during times of need. As a professional association, we actively police our members to ensure you and your loved ones receive the best care available when choosing a Selected Independent Funeral Home.

Nebraska Funeral Directors Association – Represents funeral service across the state of Nebraska. Member involvement is a forum for professional improvement and public service through continuing education, conventions, district meetings, legislative affairs, bulletins and publications.

National Funeral Directors Association – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) provides advocacy, education, information, products, programs and services to help members enhance the quality of service to families.

Better Business Bureau of Lincoln – Members of the BBB helps to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce – Is a business community engaged in the promotion of the economic health of the Lincoln area and committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.