LeSage Funeral Home History

Downs Funeral Home History

The LeSage Funeral Home was founded by Albert P. LeSage in 1896, when he opened his office and quarters at 1715 Broadway. In 1905, Mr. Albert P. LeSage moved to 1113-1115 Ogden Avenue. In 1909, he occupied the old mortuary at 1813-15 North Twelfth Street, the first building ever constructed for funeral purposes, in either Northern Wisconsin or Northern Minnesota.


The Colonial two-story building at 1304 Hammond Avenue opened in 1930, which now represents the current location of the Downs-LeSage Funeral Home.


Coad A. LeSage was the executive head of the LeSage mortuary in 1919. In 1922, he received his embalmer's license. After he was granted a license to practice in Minnesota, the illness of his father, Albert P. LeSage, in 1924, Mr. Coad LeSage was placed in active management of the business and assumed the reins in 1926, following the death of his father. Coad LeSage was the first vice president of the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association. Coad dedicated the funeral home on 1304 Hammond Avenue to his father, Albert P. LeSage.


Warren T. LeSage joined the firm in 1927 and received his diploma in 1930. Warren was the assistant when the LeSage Funeral Home opened in 1930.


Thomas LeSage attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated from the Department of Mortuary Science. He received his Funeral Director's license in 1960. Tom LeSage retired in 1986 when William Downs Jr. purchased Downs-LeSage Funeral Home.


William Downs III purchased Downs-LeSage Funeral Home in 2009 after the death of his father.

Z.A. Downs was the founder of one of the first funeral directing establishments in Superior, Wis. After being affiliated with Lodge and Whitney, a furniture and undertaking company, he went into business privately in 1888.


He was first located in the Minnehaha Block between 11th St. & 12th St. on Ogden Ave. and then later moved to 16th St. & Tower Ave, where he served the community for ten years.


After moving to 1515 Belknap St., where he was established for 20 years, he moved to 1708 Ogden Ave.


Following the death of Z. A. Downs in 1936, his son, William M. Downs was named president of the funeral home. He held that position for three decades before his death and in 1966 his son, Robert G. Downs, was named president.


Many changes have occurred over the years. While previous Downs Funeral Home locations were converted buildings and residences, the present building at 19th Street and Ogden Avenue was designed and built in 1955 specifically to be a funeral home. 


In 1992, Robert G. Downs, Jr., a 4th generation funeral director, and Al Butterworth, became the owners of the funeral home. Rob retired in 2015 after 37 years as a funeral director. Al continues to serve the community as a funeral director with Downs.


In October of 2015, Jeff Cushman, became owner and president of Downs Funeral Home. Jeff strives to continue the same level of professionalism and service that Downs Funeral Home has provided to the community for over 125 years. He is grateful the Downs Family has entrusted the future of Downs Funeral Home with him.