Staff

Our dedicated staff are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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Cory Michaelson Owner/Funeral Director

Cory attended St. Cloud State Univ. and the Univ. of Minnesota graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. He worked with his father at Michaelson Funeral Home throughout his school years and continued as a licensed Funeral Director / Mortician since 1996. Cory graduated from Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota earning a Master of Business Administration degree in 2014.

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Sean M. Gillen General Manager sean@michaelsonfuneral.com

Sean comes to Michaelson Funeral Homes with over 30 years of funeral experience.  A 1993 graduate of The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with a bachelor's degree.  In his career, Sean has worked for both the private family side and the corporate side in the industry.  Being a first generation funeral director, Sean has learned from the start that hard work does pay off.  He had a lot of guidance and mentors to get him to where he is today.  Sean understands the importance of being apart of the community in which you live.  He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, a Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th degree member, an American Legion member, a Masonic Lodge 33rd degree member, Owatonna Rotary Club, Owatonna Chamber of Commerce member, a member of the Owatonna Country Club, a licensed funeral, embalmer and certified crematory operator in Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.  Sean served 14 years in the military having been honorably discharged with an E-6 rank.  

Sean and his wife, Kim, are excited to be a part of this great community and will get to know its great history and continue the traditions that the Michaelson Family started over 50 years ago.  Having 5 children and 4 grandchildren, Sean and Kim know the importance of family values.  They love to be out in the community going to art fairs, craft shows, supporting the local athletic groups and of course, the great county fairs.   Sean and Kim also have a fox red labrador named "Chief".  

 

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Corbin Brocker Funeral Director Corbin@michaelsonfuneral.com

Corbin Brocker grew up and attended school in Lake Crystal, Minnesota.  After high school, he attended Riverland Community College receiving an Associates of Arts degree. Corbin then served four years in the United States Navy before returning to school at the University of Minnesota, and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science.

Corbin and his wife Laura are very excited to be a part of the Owatonna community. Corbin and Laura are proud parents of a rescue dog, Denver. Outside of work, he enjoys watching and playing soccer, driving around in the Jeep with the doors off, going to the gym and spending time with family and friends. He is looking forward to helping families honor their loved in a personal and meaningful way. He joined Michaelson funeral home in January 2021.

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Kesi Herschman Office Administrator Kesi@michaelsonfuneral.com

Kesi joined Michaelson Funeral Home in April of 2023. Kesi and her husband Aric live in Waseca with their two Labradors. Outside of work in her free time, she enjoys hanging with family and friends, UTV riding (especially in Wisconsin) fishing, boating, crafting, and hosting events at her home.

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Gene 'Swede' Michaelson Funeral Director

Gene served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 - 1970. He attended St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. Gene worked as a funeral director in Owatonna and Austin, MN before purchasing the funeral home in Owatonna in Jan. 1979. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1972.

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James "Jim" Schull Funeral Assistant

Jim is a retired dairy farmer.  He lives with his wife, Linda, of 58 years on the family farm.  They have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  Jim has worked for the funeral home for the past 17 years and enjoys working with the staff and the families we serve.  

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William "Bill" Samuels Funeral Assistant

Bill enjoys riding his motorcycles and playing a good game of golf.

Bill likes to travel with his wife and spend time with his kids and granddaughter.

 

 

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John Compton Funeral Assistant

John retired from Federated Insurance.  John is married to Renee and they have 2 grown children.  John enjoys maintaining his acreage and spending time with their labrador retrievers.  John and his wife enjoy attending sporting events especially college football games.  John enjoys staying in shape while working out at the fitness center, jogging and likes to hunt.  

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Gene Nelson Funeral Assistant

Gene graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1980 and then received by B.S. in Computer Science from Winona State in 1984.  Gene worked at Federated Insurance for over 38 years before retiring in 2021.  Gene met his wife, Julie, after moving to Owatonna and married in 1986.  They have two adult children, Jeff and Joe.  Gene likes to read, garden a little and bake.  He enjoys making fudge, truffles and lefse during the holidays.

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Matt Thurnau Funeral Assistant

Matt is a lifelong resident of Owatonna and he and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of 3 daughters.  A 1988 graduate of St. John's University, he recently retired from Federated Insurance after 33 years.  In addition, Matt has always been a civic-minded person, having spent 8 years on the city planning commission.  13 years on the Owatonna Fire Department and currently serving as chairman on the Airport Commission.  He is a active member of St. Joseph's Parish and the Knights of Columbus as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters.  In his spare time, Matt enjoys reading, gardening, biking and vacationing.  

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Leroy Holthus Funeral Assistant

Leroy loves spending time up north at the cabin with his family.  He enjoys mowing the lawn, hunting and fishing.

 

Cory Michaelson

Owner/Funeral Director
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Cory attended St. Cloud State Univ. and the Univ. of Minnesota graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. He worked with his father at Michaelson Funeral Home throughout his school years and continued as a licensed Funeral Director / Mortician since 1996. Cory graduated from Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota earning a Master of Business Administration degree in 2014.

Sean M. Gillen

General Manager
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Sean comes to Michaelson Funeral Homes with over 30 years of funeral experience.  A 1993 graduate of The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with a bachelor's degree.  In his career, Sean has worked for both the private family side and the corporate side in the industry.  Being a first generation funeral director, Sean has learned from the start that hard work does pay off.  He had a lot of guidance and mentors to get him to where he is today.  Sean understands the importance of being apart of the community in which you live.  He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, a Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th degree member, an American Legion member, a Masonic Lodge 33rd degree member, Owatonna Rotary Club, Owatonna Chamber of Commerce member, a member of the Owatonna Country Club, a licensed funeral, embalmer and certified crematory operator in Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.  Sean served 14 years in the military having been honorably discharged with an E-6 rank.  

Sean and his wife, Kim, are excited to be a part of this great community and will get to know its great history and continue the traditions that the Michaelson Family started over 50 years ago.  Having 5 children and 4 grandchildren, Sean and Kim know the importance of family values.  They love to be out in the community going to art fairs, craft shows, supporting the local athletic groups and of course, the great county fairs.   Sean and Kim also have a fox red labrador named "Chief".  

 

Corbin Brocker

Funeral Director
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Corbin Brocker grew up and attended school in Lake Crystal, Minnesota.  After high school, he attended Riverland Community College receiving an Associates of Arts degree. Corbin then served four years in the United States Navy before returning to school at the University of Minnesota, and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science.

Corbin and his wife Laura are very excited to be a part of the Owatonna community. Corbin and Laura are proud parents of a rescue dog, Denver. Outside of work, he enjoys watching and playing soccer, driving around in the Jeep with the doors off, going to the gym and spending time with family and friends. He is looking forward to helping families honor their loved in a personal and meaningful way. He joined Michaelson funeral home in January 2021.

Kesi Herschman

Office Administrator
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Kesi joined Michaelson Funeral Home in April of 2023. Kesi and her husband Aric live in Waseca with their two Labradors. Outside of work in her free time, she enjoys hanging with family and friends, UTV riding (especially in Wisconsin) fishing, boating, crafting, and hosting events at her home.

Gene 'Swede' Michaelson

Funeral Director
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Gene served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 - 1970. He attended St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. Gene worked as a funeral director in Owatonna and Austin, MN before purchasing the funeral home in Owatonna in Jan. 1979. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1972.

James "Jim" Schull

Funeral Assistant
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Jim is a retired dairy farmer.  He lives with his wife, Linda, of 58 years on the family farm.  They have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  Jim has worked for the funeral home for the past 17 years and enjoys working with the staff and the families we serve.  

William "Bill" Samuels

Funeral Assistant
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Bill enjoys riding his motorcycles and playing a good game of golf.

Bill likes to travel with his wife and spend time with his kids and granddaughter.

 

 

John Compton

Funeral Assistant
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John retired from Federated Insurance.  John is married to Renee and they have 2 grown children.  John enjoys maintaining his acreage and spending time with their labrador retrievers.  John and his wife enjoy attending sporting events especially college football games.  John enjoys staying in shape while working out at the fitness center, jogging and likes to hunt.  

Gene Nelson

Funeral Assistant
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Gene graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1980 and then received by B.S. in Computer Science from Winona State in 1984.  Gene worked at Federated Insurance for over 38 years before retiring in 2021.  Gene met his wife, Julie, after moving to Owatonna and married in 1986.  They have two adult children, Jeff and Joe.  Gene likes to read, garden a little and bake.  He enjoys making fudge, truffles and lefse during the holidays.

Matt Thurnau

Funeral Assistant
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Matt is a lifelong resident of Owatonna and he and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of 3 daughters.  A 1988 graduate of St. John's University, he recently retired from Federated Insurance after 33 years.  In addition, Matt has always been a civic-minded person, having spent 8 years on the city planning commission.  13 years on the Owatonna Fire Department and currently serving as chairman on the Airport Commission.  He is a active member of St. Joseph's Parish and the Knights of Columbus as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters.  In his spare time, Matt enjoys reading, gardening, biking and vacationing.  

Leroy Holthus

Funeral Assistant
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Leroy loves spending time up north at the cabin with his family.  He enjoys mowing the lawn, hunting and fishing.