Meet Our Caring Team

Shanna was born and raised in Estherville, IA before moving to Mankato in junior high and graduating from Mankato East High School.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2002 with a degree in Mortuary Science.  Shanna completed her internship in Westbrook, MN and then returned to Mankato.  Shanna and her husband Brent lost their 10-year-old daughter, Audrey in 2018 from a brain tumor.  It has given Shanna a whole new perspective as she works with grieving families. 

Shanna is a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.  In her free time, she enjoys boating, cycling, running, and spending time with friends and family.

Kayla was born and raised in Litchfield, MN. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 2012. Kayla attended the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science where she graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science.

Kayla began her career in the Twin Cities where she served as a funeral director for three years. In 2017, she made the decision to move to North Mankato and join the staff at Mankato Area Funeral Homes. She finds it an honor to be serving families in their greatest time of need.

In 2020 Kayla married her husband, Justin. They were blessed with their first daughter, Peyton, in August of 2022. Kayla enjoys camping trips, golfing, ice fishing, and spending time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and their labradoodle, Charlie.

Blake is a native of Gettysburg, South Dakota, graduating from Gettysburg High School in 1999. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Northern State University in Aberdeen (2003), his Bachelor of Science degree from SDSU in Brookings (2004), and his Mortuary Science degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 2006. Before attending mortuary school, he worked at a funeral home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he completed his SD apprenticeship. He is licensed in both Minnesota and South Dakota.

Blake joined the staff at St. Peter Funeral Home and Mankato Area Funeral Homes in September 2006. He is a member of the St. Peter Rotary Club, St. Peter Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (serving as Chairperson in 2021), member of the River's Edge Hospital Commission (serving as Vice Chairperson 2020-present), member of St. Peter Masons - Nicollet Lodge #54, and past committee member for Mayo Clinic Health System-St. Peter Hospice Fundraiser. In his spare time, he enjoys camping and traveling.

Andy was born in Milbank, SD, and graduated from Milbank High School. He graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1983, and then Andy and his wife, Brenda Handel–Johnson, were teachers in Campbell County School District in Gillette, WY, until 2000. They moved to the Twin Cities in 2000 when Andy enrolled at the University of Minnesota and worked for a funeral home in St. Paul.  He graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science in 2003. 

Andy worked as a funeral director in St. Cloud until 2016. He then worked at Mundwiler & Larson Funeral Home in Milbank and Ortonville, MN, until 2022. After Brenda was ordained as a Lutheran Deacon, they accepted a call to Big Grove-Crow River-Grace Lutheran Parish and lived in Belgrade, MN. During that time, Andy was a traveling funeral director and worked with funeral homes in Willmar and New London, MN, before moving to St. Peter, MN where Brenda serves as a Deacon and musician at First Lutheran Church.

Andy is a licensed funeral director in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. He enjoys spending time at the family cabin near Northome, MN. Fishing and hunting with their yellow lab, Mitzie, is a favorite fall activity. He enjoys playing and singing bluegrass music, baking bread, and cooking.

Louise has been a licensed mortician since graduating from the University of Minnesota program of mortuary science in December 2012. She had the distinction of teaching the anatomy lab course for the program from 2020-2022. Louise is looking forward to returning to teaching the anatomy lab course in the fall of 2025 in addition to substitute instruction in embalming and restorative art labs.

Prior to her career in funeral service, Louise worked in the lively theatre scene in Minneapolis, culminating in her role as costume shop manager at the Tony award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune. She has had the privilege of working in several Twin Cities funeral homes honing her craft in the prep room. In addition to funeral service, Louise worked from 2016 to 2023 at MHealth Fairview East Bank as a Decedent Care Specialist where she conducted and taught autopsies as well as operated the bustling hospital morgue.

Louise’s primary passion is for the “behind the scenes” of funeral service, choosing to practice and perfect her skills in embalming and restorative art with a strong underlying interest in anatomy. Louise is driven by the belief that everyone deserves to look like the best version of themselves at their funeral service. Much like her career in theatre, she thrives when working quietly in the background to ensure that everything and everyone looks their best and operates at a high level of excellence. She feels it is an honor and privilege to serve families and be there for them in their worst moments, as well as educate and mold the next generation of funeral directors.

Ben grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Afton, Virginia, and graduated from Nelson County High School. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in film and media from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, in 2016. After working in the film industry, he relocated to Colorado in search of a more meaningful and purpose-driven path, where he began his career in funeral service in Boulder. He later returned to Virginia to complete his internship and earned his associate degree in mortuary science from Brightpoint Community College in 2025. Ben is licensed in both Virginia and Minnesota.

Ben is dedicated to supporting families with care and respect and considers it a true privilege to guide them through meaningful, personal moments. He values building genuine connections and approaches his work with compassion and professionalism. He has a particular interest in embalming and restorative care, where his attention to detail and commitment to excellence help ensure that every individual is cared for with dignity. 

In his free time, Ben enjoys hiking, film, exploring new places, visiting museums, cooking, and unwinding with a good book. He especially loves traveling with his husband, trying new restaurants together, and spending time at home with their cat, Douglas. 

Nick grew up in Mankato and graduated from Mankato West High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University in Kansas City in 2012. After working at various organizations including the Boy Scouts of America and Carleton College, he started work in funeral service at Gunderson Funeral Home of Madison, Wisconsin, in early 2022. His journey came full circle when he and his spouse returned home to Mankato to be closer to family, joining the staff at Mankato Mortuary in January 2026. Whether hiking, biking, or jogging, Nick’s favorite place to be is outside—even in the cold Minnesota winters.