Our Story

Our History

Kalmer Memorial Services was established in 2009 to meet the growing demand for cremation services and other alternatives to the traditional funeral. Your choice for final disposition is extremely personal. We believe your choice is the right choice. We also believe that if you have life insurance, you shouldn't have to spend it all on a funeral.

We are owned and operated by Joseph G. Kalmer, a licensed funeral director and embalmer with over 32 years experience. Through the years, Joe has witnessed many changes in attitudes toward funeral service. With a very proactive approach, he has decided to adapt to those changes by providing a service for those who do not wish to, or simply cannot over-spend on a funeral. With less overhead expenses than the traditional funeral home, these services are provided for much less. Some examples of how we keep our expenses down: we do not own expensive hearses and limousines. If we need a hearse or a limo, we will rent one; our gathering room comfortably seat 50 - 60 people. If we need more space, we will use a church, a cemetery chapel, or perhaps a banquet center for a memorial service; you will not see a room full of caskets. If you need to purchase a casket, you may do so from a book or catalog and you will find our caskets to be the most reasonably priced in the metro area.

Our business is conveniently located east of O’Fallon, Illinois on US Rt. 50, just two minutes from Interstate 64 and Highway 158. We also own our crematory, located on site so your loved one never leaves our care. You will find it to be an inviting and comfortable environment with a friendly, caring staff. 

We understand the intimidation some feel when preparing for a funeral. Our goal is to provide dignified, professional services with absolutely no pressure of buying services or merchandise you don’t want or need. We’ll simply be there to guide you through difficult days.

For more information, please contact us.

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:

  • Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  • Burial services and cremation options
  • Celebrant Services
  • Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.

Although there are many decisions you may have to make after the passing of a loved one, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor your loved one's memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections and assist you in the publication of the obituary in the newspaper(s) of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Select beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • In the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Access grief education and support materials, and with referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
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