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About Us

Meet Our Caring Staff

Meet our staff, members of the local community who make everything that happens possible.

 Dan Dougherty

Dan Dougherty

Owner - Funeral Director

Dan Dougherty is the owner of Dougherty Funeral Home and a lifetime resident of the Duluth area. He began working in the funeral home with his father and took over the business when his father retired. He attended the University of Minnesota - School of Mortuary Science. Dan has been a funeral director since 1983.

Mark Boettcher

Mark Boettcher

Funeral Director

Mark Boettcher joined the staff at Williams-Lobermeier in 2006.  Mark grew up in the Lester Park neighborhood and graduated from Duluth East.  Mark received his Mortuary Science degree from the University of Minnesota and has been a funeral director in Duluth since 1988. Mark is a member of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad where he serves as 2nd Lieutenant/treasurer. Mark and his wife, Barb, have three grown children and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren. 

Paul Hegstrom

Paul Hegstrom

4th Generation Funeral Director

Paul Hegstrom Jr joined the staff of Dougherty Funeral Home in July of 2014. Paul grew up in Superior and now resides in Esko. Paul received his Mortuary Science degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL. Paul has been a funeral director in both Minnesota and Wisconsin since 1992. He and his wife Stacy have three children Paul III, Abigail, and Eric. Paul enjoys time spent with family and friends fishing, hunting, boating, four wheeling, snowmobiling and time spent at the family cabin on Wilson Lake.

Daniel Dougherty

Daniel Dougherty

Funeral Director

Daniel T. Dougherty is the son of Dan Dougherty. He joined the Dougherty funeral home staff in April of 2013 after he graduated from The University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program. Daniel enjoys sprending time with his chidren Try and Dalton. Fun fact, Daniel is a gourmet cook, he is currently babysitting a starter sour dough and is looking to master the art of baking bread.

Bruce Lobermeier

Bruce Lobermeier

Funeral Director

Bruce Lobermeier graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1978 with a Degree in Mortuary Science. He has spent his entire career as a funeral director in Duluth. In 1993, he co-founded the Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home with Mary Williams. Bruce and his wife Cindy are active members of Holy Family Catholic Church, where Cindy has served as organist and music director for many years. They have two adult children and six grandchildren. Bruce enjoys bacon, beef sticks and cigars.

Mary Dougherty

Mary Dougherty

Funeral Director

Originally from Hibbing, Mary went to UMD and then graduated from the University of Minnesota in Mortuary Science. A fourth generation Funeral Director, Mary worked in the twin cities for several years before coming to Dougherty’s. Mary is very excited to be back up north where she can pursue her passion for outdoor sports. She and her husband, Casey a fellow Funeral Director, love spending time together exploring Duluth and the North Shore. In 2023 they welcomed their daughter Lila. In Mary's free time she enjoys downhill skiing, mountain biking and being with family at the cabin eating her mother’s Italian cooking.  


Casey Cooper

Casey Cooper

Funeral Director

Hailing from La Crosse, WI, Casey is a die-hard Wisconsin sports fan, and an avid outdoorsman. Casey is a 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Program of Mortuary Science. Casey, along with his wife, Mary joined the staff at Dougherty’s after living and working in the Twin Cities for several years.  The opportunity for outdoor recreation drew them to the Northshore. He is an active volunteer for Healing Heart Connection and in 2018 paddled the entire length of the Mississippi to raise money for the organization. Casey and Mary welcomed their baby Lila in 2023 , when he has free time you can find him doing home remodeling, fishing, skiing and camping. 

Danny Friedman

Danny Friedman

Funeral Director

Danny discovered his passion for funeral service after spending 15 years teaching in the classroom. He grew up in the Twin Ports, and after a fair amount of rambling he is proud to call Duluth his home. Danny shares his home with his wife Amanda and two husky-shepherds. He can be found most days playing guitar and keeping the woodshed full. He enjoys spending time in the woods of Northern Minnesota whatever the season. 

Mary McIvor

Mary McIvor

Office Manager

Mary worked in banking for 20 years before joining the funeral home in 1996.  She has a love for animals and gardening.  Mary and her husband Ray enjoy working on their hobby farm which they share with their dachshunds, horses, cats and pet sheep.

Mary Williams

Mary Williams

Retired 2016

Mary Williams graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 with a degree in Mortuary Science.  Mary had worked as a funeral director in Superior and Duluth since 1977, and co-founded the Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home with Bruce Lobermeier in 1993.  Although she will miss working with the families, who became friends over the years, she is looking forward to her retirement in May.

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