Our History
According to the oldest known entry in a Journal we have, the Worthington family owned and operated a furniture store that offered an undertaking service to the Brooklyn area. The Brooklyn location was originally started back in 1889 and was located at 141 North Main Street, Brooklyn, MI (the current location of Brooklyn Bridal & Prom, Charlotte’s Web, Bhakti Yoga, and Eagle Docs). On, October 1, 1975, the Worthington Funeral Home was sold to Dick and Ed Braun who were the current owners of a Funeral Home in Adrian, Michigan. In 1978, the Braun’s built a new facility for Brooklyn and moved the business to the funeral home’s current location at 137 South Main Street, Brooklyn, MI. Dick and Ed owned and operated Braun Bros. Funeral Home Inc. until 1986 when Ed sold his interest in the Funeral Homes to his brother, Dick.
In January of 1990, Martin Braun, the son of Dick Braun, purchased Jenter Funeral Home in Manchester, MI. Jenter Funeral Home was owned by Ronald Jenter. Ronald Jenter was a third generation funeral home owner and director. The Jenter family started their undertaking service through a store front furniture, cabinet and undertaking business dating back to 1864. Jenter Funeral Home was established by Ernest Jenter in 1886 and was located at 302 East Main Street, Manchester, Michigan.
On April 1, 1992, after Martin had acquired the Manchester chapel, Dick divided Braun Bros Funeral Homes and sold the Adrian and Brooklyn locations to his two sons, Keith and Martin Braun. As third generation funeral home owners and directors, Keith owned and operated the Adrian location until 1997, and Martin owned and operated the Brooklyn location. Martin’s businesses were established as Jenter–Braun Funeral Home of Manchester, MI and M.G. Braun Funeral Home of Brooklyn, MI.
In 1999, Martin began to step toward retirement. Borek Jennings Funeral Homes, owned by Todd Borek and Karl Jennings, purchased the Brooklyn and Manchester funeral homes. In the summer of 2014, the American Legion Facility known as Kern Hall was remodeled into the Manchester Funeral Home’s new spacious ground level location at 207 East Duncan Street, Manchester, MI.
Jeff Eineder Jr. came on staff with Borek Jennings Funeral Homes on September 17, 2013. Jeff is a first-generation funeral director and has been in this profession since August of 2007. While Jeff was managing the Howell chapel of Borek Jennings Funeral Homes, Todd and Karl approached Jeff and his wife, Kristin, and asked if they would be willing to move back home. Jeff and Kristin were grateful for the opportunity. In 2017, they relocated to the Village of Brooklyn, and Jeff assumed management of the Brooklyn and Manchester chapels. On April 1, 2020, Jeff and Kristin Eineder purchased the Brooklyn and Manchester chapels, making them the fourth Family to own and operate these historic businesses.
The Eineder Family
Jeffrey L. Eineder Jr. is the son of Jeffrey & Tonyia (Poe-Lowe) Eineder of Grass Lake. He attended Napoleon Community Schools from pre-school all the way to his graduation day in June of 2007. Jeff was active during his high school career. He participated in school athletics and band. He was also a member of the Lions of Michigan All-State Band which gave him the opportunity to represent the Lions Clubs of Michigan as well as to travel to Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, Philadelphia and Chicago. Upon his return from one of the band trips in 2006, Jeff and his lifelong friend, Daniel Eads, laid the groundwork and launched a movement to start a youth Lions Club in Napoleon. The Napoleon Leo Club was formally chartered in January of 2007. The club is still serving the Napoleon Community alongside it’s sponsor, The Napoleon Lions Club. During his time in the Lions Club, Jeff was an advisor to the Napoleon Leo Club and was appointed to the 11-B1 District Leo Club Chairperson to the Lions of Michigan State Office.
Following his graduation from Napoleon High School, Jeff attended Schoolcraft College to complete pre-mortuary science classes. While attending school, he worked part-time for Nichols-Arthur Funeral Home in Michigan Center and worked full-time at Blue Beacon International in Dexter as a Bay-Shift Supervisor. In August 2011, after completing the necessary classes, Jeff transferred to Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL. While attending Worsham College, he lived and worked at Ryan–Parke Funeral Home in Park Ridge, IL. He graduated amongst the best in his class in 2012. After graduation, Jeff returned home to Michigan. He passed both Art and Science Board Exams and accepted an Apprentice Directors position with Dutcher Funeral Homes in Coldwater and Bronson, MI.
On September 2, 2012, Jeff married Kristin E. Richardson, daughter of David and Susan (Wyman) Richardson of Napoleon. Kristin attended elementary at Napoleon community schools and transferred to Jackson Christian when she was in eighth grade. She graduated Valedictorian from Jackson Christian High School in 2004. In high school, she was involved in sports, Bible quizzing and the youth group of Heart O’ the Lakes United Brethren Church of Brooklyn. Kristin went to Indiana Wesleyan University and graduated in 2008 with a General Studies degree focused in philosophy, religion and education. Upon graduating, she started a career at Flagstar Bank. After six years with the bank and after the birth of their first son in 2014, she chose to stay home to raise their family.
In September of 2013, Jeff had completed his apprenticeship, and Jeff and Kristin moved back to the Napoleon area. After a few months as an employee of Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Jeff became the Managing Director of Borek Jennings Funeral Home: Lamb Chapel in Howell. Jeff and Kristin spent four years serving in the Howell community. Jeff was a very active member of Business Network International (BNI) in Howell, Howell Rotary Club, Leadership Livingston, as well as the Advisory Board to The Willows of Howell. Jeff and Kristin were both active members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Howell.
In April of 2017, Borek and Jennings asked Jeff and Kristin if they wanted to move back home. They willingly accepted the offer and have been grateful to be back in the area surround by so many family and friends. Jeff has been the Managing Director for the Brooklyn and Manchester chapels since June of 2017. Jeff and Kristin have been warmly welcomed by the Brooklyn and Manchester Communities. They have five children, Liam, Everett, Evelynn, Gabriel (d. Jan. 2019) and Christianna; as well as a floppy eared cocker spaniel, Blitzen. The Eineder family attends St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Clarklake, St. Joseph’s Shrine in the Irish Hills, St. Mary’s in Manchester, The Pious Union of St. Joseph in Grass Lake and Our Lady of Fatima in Michigan Center. Jeff is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Jeff and Kristin are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the community as the new owners of the Brooklyn and Manchester Funeral Homes.