Coats Funeral Home

Sherman Wilk purchased By Coats

By David Fleet, Editor

After more than 28 years in the village, Bob Wilk, owner of Sherman Wilk Funeral Home, 135 South St., says it's time for a change.

In August, Waterford-based Coats Funeral Home will take over operations of his business, which Wilk has owned for many years.

"I'm getting older," said Wilk, 62, who was recently honored by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association for 40 years of service. "I'll stay with the

Bob Wilk, owner Sherman Wilk Funeral Home, 135 South St.,

will retire. Photo by Bob Flath

business here in town for the next three years - then it's retirement. The Coats family are wonderful people and the fourth generation in the funeral home business. They have a fine operation down in Waterford and will be a great asset to Ortonville."

Charles F. Sherman founded the funeral home in 1947, the first funeral "home" in Ortonville. Prior to this, funeral wakes were held in the deceaseds' homes, according to village records. In 1980, Robert and Barbara Wilk purchased the funeral home from Dorothy and Charles Sherman and changed the name to Sherman Wilk Funeral Home.

Heather Coats, of Coats Funeral Home, said the transition will begin later this summer.

"We'll come and make a few improvements to the building both inside and out," said Coats. "We will be very supportive of the Ortonville community and work to establish the business in the area. I've always had a warm place in my heart for Ortonville."

Robert Coats has now retired and turned the family business over to his daughters, Heather Coats and Heidi Frobel.

Article reprinted with permission from The Citizen, a Sherman Publication serving Ortonville. View The Citizen on line at www.thecitizenonline.com

A Family Tradition of Service Since 1925

Coats Funeral Home was established in 1925 by Robert H. Coats in Detroit, Michigan. The funeral home was a typical house on Parkside Avenue near Fenkel Ave. where Robert H. served families until 1956. Robert H. raised a son Leonard who joined in the family business. In 1950, Leonard W. Coats opened the Drayton Plains branch of Coats Funeral Home. Quite a feat at the time considering Drayton Plains was a small rural community within Waterford Township where Detroiters vacationed. In 1956 the northwest Detroit funeral home was closed and Robert H. moved "north" and joined Leonard and his grandson Robert M. Coats. Robert M., known as Bob, received his license to practice funeral service in 1958. The funeral home was remodeled and expanded and until Robert H.'s death in 1971, Robert H. and his wife Lena along with Leonard and his wife Mabel all lived in apartments at the funeral home. Mabel, Bob's mother, lived in her apartment in the funeral home until her death in November of 2004.

Bob Coats has now retired and turned the family business over to his daughter Heather M. Coats. Heather received her mortuary license in 1989 and continues, along with her sister Heidi, her mother Lois, and her father Bob to provide the quality service that families have come to expect from Coats Funeral Home.

Robert M. Coats Heather M. Coats

Heidi Coats Frobel Lois Coats