Staff Biographies

John Proko

Founder & Licensed Funeral Director

John has been a Funeral Director for more than seven decades and is the proud founder of Proko Funeral Home. John is very active in the Kenosha community, currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, St. Mary's Catholic Church, the 306 Club, and the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. John formerly served as President of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce, the Kenosha Serra Club, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life committee, the Board of the Boy Scouts Rescue Squad, and the Kenosha Public Museum. In 2002, the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce named him Business Man of the Year. John and his late wife, Maggie have six children, 11 grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Larry Proko

Vice President & Licensed Funeral Director

Email: larry@prokofuneralhome.com

Vice President and former owner of Proko Funeral Home, Larry has been a funeral director since 1982. He is past-president of the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, the Wisconsin State Representative of the International Order of the Golden Rule, and a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. In the past, Larry has served as President of the Wisconsin State Funeral Directors Association and was the state's representative on the National Funeral Directors Association Policy Board. He has also served on the boards of the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce and the Girl Scout Council of Kenosha County. Larry and his wife Tammy are members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Rachael Proko-Viola

President & Licensed Funeral Director in WI & IL

Email: rachael@prokofuneralhome.com

President and owner of Proko Funeral Home, Rachael has worked at the funeral home since 2004. She is a 2007 graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical College's Mortuary Science program. She also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2006. Rachael is a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Rachael currently serves as President of the Southeastern Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. She serves on the board for Hospice Alliance as well as St. Joseph Catholic Academy's Endowment Board. She and her husband, Dreu Viola are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church and are the proud parents of their two children.

Shannon Richards

Managing Funeral Director Licensed in WI & IL

Email: shannon.prokofuneralhome@gmail.com

Shannon Richards is a licensed funeral director in both Wisconsin and Illinois. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service in 2007. She began her career in December of 2002 and served the families of Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin until joining the staff at Proko Funeral Home in April of 2019. She resides in Bristol with her husband, Dustin, and two sons, Tucker and Tyler.

Stacey Motion

Licensed Funeral Director in WI & IL

Email: stacey.prokofuneralhome@gmail.com

Stacey joined the Proko family in 2020. She was a 2010 graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical College and received her Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. Previously, she served families in the Milwaukee area. She resides in Kenosha with her two children, Raina and Evan. Outside of work, you'll see Stacey walking her husky, Raven, or playing volleyball.

Eli Burtard

Licensed Funeral Director & Certified Crematory Operator

Email: eli.prokofuneralhome@gmail.com

Eli is originally from Elkhorn, WI and graduated from Gateway Technical College with a degree in criminal justice. He then attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and graduated in March of 2023. In his time off he enjoys playing tennis, visiting museums, and spending time outside with his daughter, Luna.

Rachel McDonald

Apprentice Funeral Director & Certified Crematory Operator

Email: rachel.prokofuneralhome@gmail.com

Since I am the second person called Rachel (even though it is spelled differently than Rachael Proko-Viola), it can sometimes be difficult to know who is who, so my friends call me R2, and you can too!

Rachel started at Proko Funeral Home in July of 2019. She attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science.

Dreu Viola

Director of Marketing &

Pre-Planning

Email: dreu.viola@outlook.com

Dreu joined Proko Funeral Home in 2022 as our new Pre-planning Counselor and serves as our Director of Marketing.

Katie Boerner

Receptionist/Admin Assistant

Email: directors@prokofuneralhome.com

Katie started at Proko Funeral Home in February 2019. Katie and her husband, Kris are residents of Pleasant Prairie. They are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. They are the proud parents of two children. Katie enjoys sipping martinis and listening to Billy Joel in her free time.

Alex Legler

Funeral Director's Assistant

Alex has worked at Proko Funeral Home since 2003. He has recently retired from Badger Press Photographics Inc. Alex and his wife, Susan are very active members of Bethany Lutheran Church (New Life).

Colleen Vice

Former Pre-Planning Counselor & Celebrant

Colleen joined our staff in February of 2010 as a Pre-Planning Counselor to help alleviate emotional and financial burdens for their families in the future. In 2011, she also became our on-staff Celebrant, regularly officiating funeral services.

On December 16, 2021, we lost our beloved co-worker and friend. Colleen was phenomenal at her work and will be greatly missed by our staff and the many families she served.