Short:
My family has had 5 funerals in 18 months, and 3 of them were in Waukee. We hosted them with Ernst Funeral Home; my family will never use another funeral home. Michael Ernst has shown time and time again how much a great funeral director can make everything run smoothly. 5 stars are usually given out easily, but Michael earns every one of them.
I know this review is publically attached to my name, and I’m okay with that; Ernst Funeral Home deserves the recognition.
Long:
Funerals suck, thats a pretty cut and dry answer. Michael has helped me host my father’s, grandfather, and grandmother’s funeral. Like most families we have unique traditions or ways of remembering our family members. Michael and his staff were beyond appeasing for making sure we got what we wanted done. He was completely on top of making sure that everything moved smoothly when it came to coordinating things with the church/burial-site. You’d be stunned about how much behind the scenes stuff needs to be done. I only know these things because by the 3rd funeral with him you notice all the niceties that are going on. Unless you’re paying close attention you won’t notice how hard he works to make sure everything goes smoothly. A death in the family is never a great time for anyone. I commend Michael for being a very stress and pressure free salesman. Some funeral homes take advantage of people in their time of crisis because they aren’t thinking clearly (they’re mourning). Michael never pushed anything on us to make an extra buck, and I to me that shows how much integrity Michael has when it comes to conducting business.
After each funeral was over, I told him the same thing; “Michael, you’re a great guy, everything went amazing and we are all happy, but I hope I don’t have to see you again for many years.” Fortunately, I know if I do have to call him again that everything will be as headache free as possible, and I’ll be able to leave the the funeral happy thanks to Michael.