J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home Celebrates Its Service Members this Veteran’s Day

As Veterans Day approaches, J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home takes pride in honoring its veteran employees and recognizing their invaluable contributions to our country. Their unwavering dedication to their work and commitment to the families of Charleston exemplify the spirit of service and sacrifice that underpins our freedom.

Currently, their team includes eight veterans, each with unique stories and experiences. We had the privilege of speaking with five of these remarkable individuals to discuss their time in service, their journey to joining the company, and what being part of the team means to them.

The veterans who work at Stuhr Funeral Home have come from very different service backgrounds: Chuck Blankin is a Vietnam veteran who served as a US Naval officer with the Riverines and served as a launch officer aboard the USS Forestall. Fred Lentz served in the Navy as both a hospital corpsman and mortuary assistant. Bob Hammel served in the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserves. Robin Johnson and Brian Calhoun served in the Army, and Calhoun is still in service with the National Guard.

When reflecting on their time in service, their different areas of expertise, and their varying experiences, each veteran agrees that there are some crucial skills they picked up that are universal among all service members.

“I’ve got a lot of skills in the branch I was in,” explains Hammel. “I mean, I was cross-trained in a lot of stuff. But I have to go back to something that really helped me through my career, and that’s leadership.”

Blankin, Calhoun, Lentz, and Johnson agree that leadership and what it takes to be a good leader are valuable lessons they learned during their time in the military. Johnson said that you don’t just go in and learn how to be a leader; you go in and learn how to follow, then how to build a great team, and ultimately, how to lead that team.

Calhoun adds that after transitioning from air defense to military photographer and public affairs, he learned useful communication skills and tactfulness when speaking, especially with sensitive topics. Being a service member gives you a heart for serving others, which is undoubtedly vital in the funeral home industry.  The crucial soft skills they learned have been monumental for their civilian careers and have immensely aided in their work with the Stuhr Funeral Home team.

During their time employed at Stuhr Funeral Home, they have not only been able to use these skills for the betterment of the company but, in turn, have experienced immense support from the Stuhr family.

Calhoun, a licensed funeral director, recounted the staff’s flexibility when the National Guard sent him to areas or situations that needed support. Blankin, a certified veteran services officer, spoke of when he presented to Catherine Stuhr the idea of giving unclaimed veterans Commanders Honors to ensure every veteran is given a respectful burial that acknowledges the sacrifices they made, and the idea was enthusiastically received. Since the ceremony was initially established, 19 veterans have been given proper Commanders Honors.

Lentz, now serving as a part-time licensed funeral director, worked with Stuhr Funeral Home before he joined the Navy and loved the team so much that when he retired from the military, he came back to work for them as soon as a position became available. During that time, he worked on his skills and education to further his knowledge in the funeral home industry.

Hammel, who is a part-time funeral service associate, and Johnson, the company’s newest hire as an executive assistant to the COO, spoke of the overwhelming amount of love and support they’ve felt since they were first employed by the rest of the staff. They also spoke to how much they admire Stuhr Funeral Home’s support of Fisher House Charleston, a local organization for the families of veterans receiving care at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.

There is so much more to gain from being a service member than just necessary career tools. No matter when they served, where they served, or what branch they served in, the Stuhr Funeral Home veterans agree that they are united by the indisputable bond that all service members and veterans have with one another.

“I think one really valuable lesson I learned is how to be a good friend,” says Johnson. “The way that we have camaraderie in the military is the reason they make movies like Band of Brothers that talk about it, which is truly on a whole other level. You really have to trust, which is the center of a good relationship.”

“Two people can be complete strangers, and they find out they both served, and there is this instant connection,” adds Calhoun.

Johnson stated that this fellowship and bond can sometimes get overlooked because often the narrative of veterans is one full of sadness and PTSD, but that’s not always the case.

“Veterans are amazing,” says Johnson.  “These guys are the rock stars of this company because they served. And people know that, but so often it’s overclouded by a darker narrative.”

While the support veterans have for one another is irreplaceable, the support of the civilian community is crucial as well. Companies that hire veterans are not only investing in high-quality employees, but they are, in a way, thanking them for their service.

Catherine Stuhr, chief operating officer, shared, “Employing veterans enriches our team with discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. Their ability to adapt, lead, or follow is an asset to our team.  Our veterans bring a welcome sense of patriotism to all they do.”

Stuhr Funeral Home is a proud supporter of the United States military, as seen in the veterans they hire and the care and attention that goes into their veterans’ services.

“I would not trust anyone other than Stuhr’s to handle my post-death care because you can feel the dignity and the way they honor their veterans,” says Johnson. “The honors were exactly the way they should be, so they do take a lot of pride in that and getting it right, and I think that says a lot because I’ve seen a lot of military funerals in my day, and they do not all go well.”

Stuhr Funeral Home can help loved ones navigate post-death care for passed veterans, from VA burial expenses to ensuring proper ceremony is observed to helping secure a burial spot in a locally or nationally recognized veteran’s cemetery.

Their team also honors our county’s fallen service members by hosting a school class to place flags on graves for Veteran’s Day every year as a symbol of respect and honor. They value the opportunity they have to educate children about what a veteran is, what it means to be one, and why we should take the time to honor them.

As we celebrate Veteran’s Day this November, Stuhr Funeral Home invites you to thank a service member you know for their sacrifices. November is also a time to honor the veterans who have passed, celebrate their lives, and honor their service.