A Legacy of Serving
A CONVERSATION WITH CHARLES “POOCH” ROPER, OF ROPER & SONS FUNERAL HOME
One of the many wonderful things about assembling this publication is the opportunity to hear stories from all over our community — memories, anecdotes, tidbits, and yarns. They are frequently joyful, often humorous, and sometimes bittersweet. We strive to share what is special and preserve what is worth remembering. In many ways, we try our best to do what the Roper family of Roper & Sons Funeral Home have been doing in Lincoln since 1901: honoring good lives and good moments, so that they live on, even as life’s seasons change. We had the privilege of sitting down with Charles “Pooch” Roper, the third- generation owner of Roper & Sons Funeral Home, and his son, Tom, a fourth-generation owner, to learn more about their family’s legacy.
Charles — who earned the nickname “Pooch” in the earliest of his 93 years — still enjoys showing up at the office. His level of dedication and responsibility to families and employees are qualities that have identified Roper & Sons as compassionate and caring. We wondered about his work in the funeral industry over the years and all that he has accomplished so we could share it with our readers.
Pooch, have you lived in Lincoln your entire life?
Pooch: I was born here in Lincoln. My parents separated when I was about 8-years-old. My mother moved us out to Crawford, Nebraska to be closer to her family. She was from a family of ranchers out in the Sandhills, and it was a beautiful place to be raised. They take care of you; but if you get out of line, they let you know about that, too! After high school, I moved back to Lincoln to work for my dad. At that time, the mortuary was downtown, near 13th and N Streets. I actually lived in the mortuary and drove the ambulance as I attended classes at the University of Nebraska. My uncle Max was managing the funeral home and my dad handled the treasury and finances.
How did your career progress after college?
Pooch: After I graduated from the University, I was sent to Chicago to a management school for a few months. My time in Chicago was good, but I was happy to return back to Lincoln.
In 1953, I went to mortuary school in San Francisco for one year. During the time I was there, I got a call from my dad who said I had a surprise waiting for me. “You’re up next to be drafted.” I figured my time was coming, but I still had 3 months left of school and I wanted to finish it out. Luckily, I was able to get a deferment for 3 months, and then I enlisted in the Air Force.
When I returned to Lincoln, I worked in all aspects of the funeral business – embalming, working with families, directing funerals, as well as performing management responsibilities of hiring, firing, and so on. I even helped design and build Roper’s main chapel here on O Street with my cousin Reg, one of Max’s sons. We’ve built four additions to this location since then.
Do any of your sons work with you?
Pooch: I have four sons: my twin sons Tom and Mark work with me in the funeral business. In this day and age, you don’t find many companies in which fourth-generation children choose to stay and work in a family’s business. It’s pretty special that I’ve been lucky to work with them for all these years.
Tom, how did you get started working with your dad?
Tom: I was living in Colorado shortly after high school. I did various jobs — a ski instructor, painter, etc. — for a couple of years before moving back to Lincoln. In the early years of working together, you could say I had some maturing to do. Pooch was always consistent and kind, allowing me to come into my own. Pooch is about as honest a man as you can possibly find and I try to follow that model. He taught me to work hard and try to make him proud.
Pooch: I am really proud of Tom. When he first started, it was a little tough. We started him in the crematory and he tried to burn the place down. One day, after he had just started, he came to me and said, “Dad, I’m not making enough money.” I said, “Tom, I’ve got you in charge of the crematory.” He looked at me, then walked out.
Pooch can’t contain his laughter at this recollection.
What kept you positive and going over all these years?
Pooch: The hours were not good, which can be hard on a family. I can’t tell you how many family dinners I had to leave – nights, weekends, and holidays. What kept me going was that I felt I could help people. This is the greatest reward for being in this business.
What has it been like running a business in Lincoln?
Pooch: Lincoln is great. When I first came here, the population of Lincoln was about 60,000. That number grew to 90,000 and we figured that would be as large as it would get. It’s really become a “big, little town.”
What do you want the Lincoln community to know about Roper & Sons?
Pooch: We’re here to help and we try to do a great job. We’re very ethical and try to do things the right way. If you don’t do people right, the word gets around.
Roper & Sons Funeral Home has been in business for 120 years. It’s been an honor to interview Pooch Roper who has contributed to the success of this business for 70 years of his life. Well done, Pooch!