Wilbert History & Legacy
A Legacy of Trust Since 1880
For more than a century, the Wilbert name has been connected to innovation, craftsmanship, and service in the funeral profession. What began with an innovative idea to improve burial protection grew into a network of people and businesses dedicated to helping families honor loved ones with dignity and respect.
History at a Glance
An Idea Became a Network
What began with a better way to build a burial vault grew into a North American network serving funeral professionals and families.
The Network Became a Community
Local providers built lasting relationships with funeral homes, cemeteries, and the communities they serve.
Generations Carried It Forward
Many Wilbert providers remain family-owned businesses led by second-, third-, and even fourth-generation family members.
Still Serving Families Today
Wilbert continues to support funeral professionals through products, services, education, and innovation designed to help families honor loved ones.
The Beginning: An Idea That Changed Burial
Wilbert’s story began in 1880 when 18-year-old German immigrant Leo Haase founded L.G. Haase Manufacturing Company near Chicago. At the time, burial vaults were commonly constructed from brick directly within the grave. He believed there was a better way.
His goal was simple:
Create a stronger, more reliable burial vault that helped protect a loved one’s casket and preserve the gravesite.
That idea became the foundation of Wilbert.
As the years passed, Wilbert continued improving burial vault design through new materials, manufacturing methods, and quality standards. What began as a single innovation evolved into a long-standing commitment to protection, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
Today, Wilbert burial vaults remain one of the company’s most recognized products and a reflection of the commitment that started it all.
Generations Serving Generations
The history of Wilbert is not simply the history of one company.
It is the story of generations of people serving generations of families.
Today, many Wilbert providers remain family-owned businesses led by second-, third-, and even fourth-generation family members. Along with those businesses came a responsibility to uphold the standards, service, and trust that have long defined the Wilbert name.
For many providers, Wilbert is more than a business. It is a family legacy carried forward through service to the funeral professionals and families they support every day.
Powered by a Network of Licensees
The strength of Wilbert has always been more than its products. An important part of Wilbert history is the Wilbert Manufacturers Association (WMA).
For decades, licensed providers have come together through the WMA to share expertise, strengthen standards, exchange ideas, and help shape the future of the organization.
Innovation with Purpose
Innovation has always been part of the Wilbert story.
As families and funeral professionals changed, Wilbert evolved alongside them through advancements in burial vaults, cremation memorialization, personalization, education, and professional support.
What never changed was the commitment to serving families and funeral professionals with excellence.
A Legacy of Trust Since 1880
Over the years, Wilbert products have been selected for presidential memorials and the final resting places of notable figures from government, entertainment, sports, literature, and American history.
More importantly, generations of families have trusted Wilbert products, services, and local providers to help commemorate loved ones with dignity, care, and respect.
Presidents & National Leaders
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Mamie Eisenhower
- President Herbert Hoover
- President Lyndon B. Johnson
- President John F. Kennedy
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Senator Robert F. Kennedy
- President Jimmy Carter
Arts, Entertainment & Sports
- Louis Armstrong
- Harry Caray
- Elvis Presley
- Gilda Radner
- Frank Sinatra
- John Wayne
- Thornton Wilder
American History & Literature
- Betsy Ross
- Pearl S. Buck
Carrying the Legacy Forward
For more than a century, Wilbert has supported the people who help families honor and remember a life.
Today, that same commitment continues through trusted memorialization solutions, local partnerships, and resources designed to help families create meaningful tributes that reflect what matters most.