Our Staff
Meet the Staff of Brainard Funeral Home and Cremation Center
Each of our employees is hired based on their integrity, compassion, willingness to serve, competence, and professionalism. The quality of the individuals on our staff is second to none. Each of them takes great pride in being a member of the Brainard Funeral Home “Family.” Daily they exhibit enthusiasm and pride in serving families to the best of their abilities. Regularly our Funeral Home receives positive feedback in the form of comments and letters, highlighting instances of exemplary service and personal concern. Their commitment to the community and genuine compassion toward families are but a few of the characteristics that make them outstanding in their field. The professionalism and personal commitment provide for premier service we have to offer. We are proud to have each one of them on our team.
Scott Brainard
Licensed Funeral Director
Scott has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1973. He leads a staff dedicated to helping families honor their loved ones in the most respectful and loving way possible. Scott is an active member of the Wausau area community who has served as President of numerous organizations including: Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Exchange Club of Wausau, and Big Bull Falls Lions Club. Scott has an active personal life that includes downhill skiing, scuba diving, and motorcycles. He has two sons, one daughter-in-law, and a grandson and a granddaughter.
Lucas Gajewski
Licensed Funeral Director
Lucas is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer who manages the day-to-day operations at Brainard. He is a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where he was acknowledged by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, the National Funeral Director’s Association, and the Cremation Association of North America for his dedication and commitment to mortuary studies. He received The American Institute of Embalmer’s Award and The Jack Adams Dodge Award in regards to his ranking in his class, as well as the Karlton A. Koball Award; an award presented to the student demonstrating an unwavering professional attitude and behavior, selected by his peers.
He currently serves as Vice President on the Wisconsin River Valley board of the Wisconsin Funeral Director’s Association. He is also serving as the Community Outreach Advisor on the Board of Directors for the Central Wisconsin Educational Theatre Alliance. Lucas was the Class President of the D.C. Everest Class of 2013 and is a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schofield where he serves as an Outreach Board Member. He also is a member of the Worship Band at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Weston. While attending UW-Eau Claire, Lucas was a member of The Singing Statesmen and is now a member of the Wausau Lyric Choir. He enjoys getting involved on stage and off with various community music and theatre groups.
Lucas feels honored to return to his hometown and blessed to be using his talents to serve the families of this community.
Email: lucas@brainardfuneral.com
Shannon Rhyner
Licensed Funeral Director
Shannon is pleased to return to Brainard Funeral Home, after serving her apprenticeship with us in 2000. A graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical School’s mortuary science program, Shannon has worked in funeral homes in Southern Wisconsin, Texas, and California. She is happy to return to her hometown and meet with the families we serve to help them arrange a personalized service tailored to their loved one.
Email: shannon@brainardfuneral.com
Nick Ficken
Licensed Funeral Director
Nick's bio and photo will be posted soon!
Email: nick@brainardfuneral.com
Debbie Maly
Advance Funeral Planner
Debbie is happy to join the Brainard Funeral Home family and is committed to helping families plan for their future needs as our Advance Funeral Planner. She has two married sons and four beautiful grandchildren. An avid traveler, Debbie loves to fill her passport with new stamps by exploring new places and learning different cultures and traditions.
Email: debbie@brainardfuneral.com
Kathy Burg
Administrative Assistant
Kathy provides the necessary tools and supplies for our Funeral Directors to be able to complete their arrangements and honor family requests. This includes a wide range of things, whatever she can do to help a family through a difficult time. Kathy stays in contact with all of the families that we serve after the funeral services conclude. We see to it that any aftercare needs the family may have are arranged. She is married to Dan and has 3 grown sons; Jeremy, Jacob, and Joshua. While they are her pride and joy, another little boy has stolen her heart – her grandson, Nolan.
Email: kathy@brainardfuneral.com
Ryley Dunn
Administrative Assistant
Ryley is the Administrative Assistant in our Wausau Chapel. Ryley graduated from UW – Stout with a Bachelors degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. She lived in the Menomonie, Eau Claire area for 8 years after school before moving back to her hometown of Wausau. Ryley spends her free time with her friends, family and cats. She enjoys her interaction with the community on a daily basis and takes pride in assisting our funeral directors with the families who walk through our doors. She is most likely the voice you will hear when you call Brainard Funeral Home, so drop a line and help us welcome her!
Email: ryley@brainardfuneral.com
Roger Kohn
Funeral Assistant
Roger retired from Emmons Business Interiors after a career that spanned almost 46 years. Roger is married to Jan, and they have four daughters, four grand daughters, and one grandson. Roger served 4 ½ years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Jan & Roger are members of the Elks Club Lodge #248. He loves spending time with his family, traveling and fishing. When not working Roger is involved with his church, Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mary Jarvis
Funeral Assistant
Mary is serving as a Funeral Assistant. She graduated from UW-Stout with degrees in Psychology and Counseling, along with a Master's Degree in Education from UW-Stevens Point. Mary is a retired educator from the Wausau School District after 35 years of service.
Mary and her husband, Dick, enjoy sharing time with their two sons, one of whom lives in the Wausau area and the other in Denver, Colorado. They enjoy volunteering in the community with the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, their church-St. Andrew Lutheran Church, and various other volunteer opportunities. Their small hobby farm keeps them busy, but in Mary's spare time, she enjoys gardening and horseback riding.
John Prey
Funeral Assistant
John's biography will be posted soon!
Paul Missett
Building & Grounds Assistant
Paul retired from Federal Mogul in 2011, is Chairman of the Wausau Veterans Committee, Past Commander of Wausau American Legion Post 10, Co-Commander of American Legion Honor Guard and served his country in the United States Marine Corps. Married for 39 years to Sue and they have 3 daughters, 2 grandsons, and 2 grandaughters. He enjoys spending time with family, golfing, hunting fishing and helping family and friends when they need things fixed.