LeSage Funeral Home was founded in 1896, when Albert P. LeSage established his office and living quarters at 1715 Broadway in Superior. As the community grew, so did the funeral home. In 1905, Mr. LeSage moved the business to 1113–1115 Ogden Avenue, and in 1909, he relocated to 1813–1815 North Twelfth Street—recognized as the first building in northern Wisconsin or northern Minnesota constructed specifically for funeral service.
In 1930, a new Colonial-style, two-story funeral home was opened at 1304 Hammond Avenue. This location served generations of families and became a lasting symbol of the LeSage family’s commitment to the community.
Leadership of the firm passed to Albert’s son, Coad A. LeSage, who became actively involved in 1919 and earned his embalmer’s license in 1922. Following Albert’s illness in 1924, Coad assumed management of the business and, after his father’s passing in 1926, continued the family’s work with dedication. He was a respected leader in the profession, serving as first vice president of the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, and later dedicated the Hammond Avenue funeral home to his father’s legacy.
Warren T. LeSage joined the firm in 1927 and received his diploma in 1930, contributing to the opening and early years of the Hammond Avenue location. The tradition of service continued with Thomas LeSage, a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Mortuary Science, who became a licensed funeral director in 1960 and served families for many years.
In 1986, the funeral home entered a new chapter when William Downs Jr. purchased the business, continuing its long-standing commitment to compassionate care. That legacy was carried forward by his son, William Downs III, who assumed ownership in 2009. Bill Downs III and Jody Tetzlaff operated LeSage and Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Homes until January 2026.
In February 2026, Downs Life Celebration Center became the next steward of this long-standing tradition. While the Hammond Avenue location has since closed, the legacy of care established by the LeSage and Downs families continues.
Today, we are honored to carry that legacy forward, serving families with compassion, dignity, and personal attention, just as our funeral home has done for more than 130 years.
