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Biglin’s Mortuary, the oldest business in O’Neill, has served the community for well over 100 years. It was established in 1879 by John McCann, a furniture maker, who became the first undertaker in the three year old village.

Biglin’s Mortuary, the oldest running business in O’Neill, has been serving the people for well over 100 years. It was established in 1879 by John McCann, a furniture maker, who became the first undertaker in the three-year-old village.

Owen F. Biglin worked for McCann and married his daughter, Margaret, in 1884. After McCann’s death, the business was changed to O.F. Biglin Furniture and Undertaking. His sons, Frank and Bill, joined the firm in the 1910s, and both became embalmers and funeral directors. After the death of Owen Biglin in 1918, the firm’s name was changed from O.F. Biglin and Sons to Biglin Brothers.

The building that housed the undertaking business burned down in 1925. A new brick building was constructed on its site in 1927, at 118 South 4th Street. It would stay in that location until 1991. In 1953, after the death of Frank Biglin, George Hammond, a native of O’Neill, after his mortuary schooling and internship with Biglin, managed the business until a partnership was established with Mrs. William Biglin, Robert Clinkscales, and George Hammond. This partnership remained until 1955, when Joe W. Tennis joined the firm, buying out Mrs. Biglin.

The name of the business would change once more to Biglin’s Mortuary. In 1959, a major renovation took place as the furniture part of the business sold out and the entire building became a mortuary. The new mortuary chapel changed the custom of the wake service. In 1950, 95% of the deceased were returned to their homes for the wake service. By 1959, 95% of the visitations and viewings were being held in the chapel. Joe Tennis and George Hammond remained partners in the operation until Joe’s retirement in 1980.

In 1978, Bob Berg joined the firm as a licensed embalmer and funeral director. Ron Grenz, also a licensed embalmer and funeral director, joined the firm in 1980. In 1984, George Hammond retired after 35 years; Bob and his wife, Nancy, and Ron and his wife, Beth, purchased the corporation and continued to operate it. In the fall of 1991, a new mortuary was built at 111 North 3rd Street to better serve the communities of O’Neill, Page, Inman, Chambers, Emmet and Ewing. In the tradition of all who have gone before them, it continues today to dedicate its services as it has for over 100 years.

In 2012, Bob retired. His son Ryan and wife Traci moved the family to O’Neill to continue the tradition of serving the O'Neill Community as a Funeral Director at Biglin's Mortuary. In 2016, Ron retired, and Daniel Krugman and his wife Monica returned to O’Neill to serve the community as a Funeral Director.