Staff
Our dedicated staff members 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.
Mark was born in Richland County and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Richland Center. He is the son of Dave and Marce (Slaney) Jelinek. Mark attended grade school at St. Mary's in Richland Center and was a 1999 graduate of Richland Center High School. The day following his graduation Mark began his employment at the Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service. Mark attended the UW-Richland receiving his Associate Degree in the spring of 2001. He then transferred to The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in Ohio. Mark graduated from CCMS in the fall of 2002. Later in 2002 Mark received his Wisconsin Funeral Directors License. Mark received his Life Insurance License from the State of Wisconsin in 2004. Mark is a member of the Funeral and Cremation Service Alliance of Wisconsin.
As a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Richland Center, Mark serves as lector and usher. He has been a member of the Parish Finance Committee, the Parish Council and was the Chair of St. Mary's Parish Festival.
Mark has previously served on the AGRACE Hospice Steering Committee, as a trustee on the Muscoda Village Board, the President on the Muscoda Chamber of Commerce, a board member on the Richland Hospital Board.
Mark is a member of the Knights of Columbus fraternal organization. In the Richland Center Council he serves as Secretery and Council Historian. He previously served as the Financial Secretary for nine years. He is a charter member of Richland Center Knights of Columbus Assembly 3393 4th Degree. In the 4th Degree he served as this Assembly's first Faithful Navigator and is a member of the Honor Guard. Mark continues to assist in creating and supporting many community events alongside his fellow Knights which raise funds for local charities and organizations.
On the State level of the Knights of Columbus, Mark served as the Membership Director for the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus and as the Director for the Helping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Program, commonly referred to as the Tootsie Roll Program. He also serves as a Director for the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus Charities Board.
Mark is married to DeAnna (Riska) Jelinek, who works at the Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service as our Administrative Assistant. Mark and DeAnna are the proud parents of their son Carter and are honored to be serving their community.
Nicholas Hodge was born and raised in Richland Center, the son of Steve Hodge and Rhonda (Deets) Sutton. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 2007. After high school he attended Southwest Technical College, UW-Richland, and UW-Platteville.
In January 2011, Nick began working as an apprentice for Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service. While working at Pratts Nick attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in February 2014 and received his Wisconsin Funeral Director's License in March of 2014. In 2015, Nick received his Life Insurance License from the State of Wisconsin.
On September 12, 2015 Nick married his high school sweetheart, Lacey (Polensky) Hodge. Lacey completed her nursing degree at Southwest Technical College and is currently working as a Registered Nurse at the Richland Hospital. Nick and Lacey are the proud parents of their twin boys Bryce and Nolan.
Darren Klingaman joined Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service in September 2019. Darren was born in Richland Center and raised in Rockbridge. He is the son of Keith and JoAnn (Coy) Klingaman. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 1993. Prior to joining Pratts, Darren worked in the beer distribution and garbage business. In February 2022, Darren attended the Funeral Director Apprenticeship Course at MATC-Milwaukee. In May 2022, he received his Apprenticeship License from the State of Wisconsin.
Darren enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending music concerts, watching/attending Milwaukee Brewers and other MLB games, biking, kayaking, hiking in the summer months, and building colorful attention grabbing snow sculptures in the winter months.
He currently resides in Lone Rock and is honored to be following his dream to be a member of the Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service staff.
David Harper was born in Richland County and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Richland Center. He is the son of Alfred and Beverly Harper. David was a 1995 graduate of Richland Center High School. David attended UW-Richland and in 1997 transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in K-12 art teaching. David was hired by the Royall School District in 2001 and taught elementary art for six years. During that time, he went back to school through the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and received his master’s degree in Education in 2006.
David “retired” from teaching in 2007 and started homeschooling his four kids. Fast forward to the present and David still teaches three of the four kids as his oldest graduated and goes to Northern Michigan University.
David is married to his wife Jennifer, and they have been together for over 20 years. David and his family are members of the Richland Baptist Temple in Richland Center. In his spare time David likes to make maple syrup, raise honeybees, make homemade soap, bow hunt, make pies, and sing. In 2007, David was fortunate enough to sing the National Anthem at a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game against the New York Mets. Beginning in the spring of 2013, and each spring thereafter until 2020, David and his family traveled to Orlando, Florida to participate in the National Pie Championships. During that time David had 37 place winning pies.