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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
roybetzler@lifestorynet.com
As the oldest of six boys, Roy kept himself busy in his youth by cutting lawns, running errands, and delivering newspapers around Detroit. His delivery job at The Detroit Times ended when the newspaper went out of business, and Roy's next job foreshadowed his life to come. At 15, Roy began working for the neighborhood funeral home, washing cars, cutting grass, and doing general maintenance in and around the building. He kept this job throughout his school years. After high school, Roy attended the Detroit Institute of Technology and Highland Park Community College. He went on to attend Wayne State University, graduating with a degree in Mortuary Science. He had chosen this field for one simple reason: he wanted to help people.
To be better able to do this, Roy wanted to establish his own funeral home. After 15 years of working for someone else, Roy moved to Kalamazoo, where he purchased a preexisting funeral home of his own. By 1986, he had the means to move the Betzler Funeral Home to a new building on Stadium drive. And in 1999, Roy purchased a second chapel in Paw Paw.
The business aspect of Roy's life continues to be successful, but this is only because of his emotional commitment to helping families in their times of need. "It's one thing to take care of all the details in a professional setting," says Roy, "and quite another to be involved emotionally, like I am, while providing those functions." Roy's empathy for families stems from his own personal experience. He felt the loss of his father at the young age of 17, an event that was incredibly traumatic: "I still miss [my father] . . . He never saw me graduate from college, marry, buy my first home, have a family, or start a business. I know what it feels like to experience that loss." In honor of his dad, Roy has become somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to his work. He spends whatever amount of time and effort are necessary to give families the kind of services they deserve.
Two of Roy's children have followed in his footsteps. Scott and Bruce Betzler work with their father, adopting his same commitment to giving grieving families the best service possible. Roy also has two daughters, Trisha and Laura, who live in Arizona. There are eight grandchildren in the family, and Roy likes to visit them as much as he can. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Rosalie, whom he married in 1997.
Roy Betzler successfully built his business from the ground up. What makes it a continued success, however, is the fact that he genuinely cares about the people he serves and making sure they will receive the best service now and far into the future.
To be better able to do this, Roy wanted to establish his own funeral home. After 15 years of working for someone else, Roy moved to Kalamazoo, where he purchased a preexisting funeral home of his own. By 1986, he had the means to move the Betzler Funeral Home to a new building on Stadium drive. And in 1999, Roy purchased a second chapel in Paw Paw.
The business aspect of Roy's life continues to be successful, but this is only because of his emotional commitment to helping families in their times of need. "It's one thing to take care of all the details in a professional setting," says Roy, "and quite another to be involved emotionally, like I am, while providing those functions." Roy's empathy for families stems from his own personal experience. He felt the loss of his father at the young age of 17, an event that was incredibly traumatic: "I still miss [my father] . . . He never saw me graduate from college, marry, buy my first home, have a family, or start a business. I know what it feels like to experience that loss." In honor of his dad, Roy has become somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to his work. He spends whatever amount of time and effort are necessary to give families the kind of services they deserve.
Two of Roy's children have followed in his footsteps. Scott and Bruce Betzler work with their father, adopting his same commitment to giving grieving families the best service possible. Roy also has two daughters, Trisha and Laura, who live in Arizona. There are eight grandchildren in the family, and Roy likes to visit them as much as he can. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Rosalie, whom he married in 1997.
Roy Betzler successfully built his business from the ground up. What makes it a continued success, however, is the fact that he genuinely cares about the people he serves and making sure they will receive the best service now and far into the future.
