Our legacy
About Us
Through years of experience, we've gained valuable insights—like how to offer choices without overwhelming, and how to address the needs of multiple caring individuals. When people turn to us in their most challenging moments, we respond with compassion, clarity, and expertise.
Our goal is to create a memorable experience and ensure you always feel welcome. We dedicate our time to planning alongside families, staying informed on the latest industry developments, and making hard times a little easier.
Our Story
The Ertel Funeral Home has been a cornerstone of Southwest Colorado for over a century, proudly serving the communities of Southwest Colorado, Southeast Utah, Northeast Arizona, and two Native American tribes, the Navajo and Ute Mountain Ute tribes. Beginning in 1921, J. Walter Ertel made a deep commitment of service that has been carried on through three generations of the Ertel family.
The current Funeral Home building, constructed between 1935 and 1936, was designed by leading Denver architect Walter H. Simon with beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival influences. Upon its dedication, the Cortez Sentinel lauded it as “the finest mortuary on the whole western slope of Colorado”. Honored by enrollment on the National and Colorado Register of Historic Places in 1995, the building retains a good level of architectural integrity and remains one of the few fine examples of this style in Cortez. The building’s beautiful chapel, originally used by many local churches until they could settle into permanent facilities, was also a central location for significant community events, including the organization of two local banks and the Southwest Memorial Hospital.
1921
The Ertel family's century-long commitment to service began when J. Walter Ertel purchased the Ames Funeral Homes of Dolores, Mancos, and Cortez. This marked the start of the Ertel Funeral Home proudly serving the communities of Southwest Colorado, Southeast Utah, Northeast Arizona, and two Native American tribes, the Navajo and Ute Mountain Ute tribes.
1935 - 1936
The current, distinguished Ertel Funeral Home building was constructed, designed by leading Denver architect Walter H. Simon with Spanish Colonial Revival influences. The completed mortuary was lauded by the Cortez Sentinel as “the finest mortuary on the whole western slope of Colorado”. Due to its size and appropriate décor, the building's chapel became a central community gathering place for years, hosting organizations like the Citizens State Bank of Cortez, Southwest Memorial Hospital, the Cortez School District, and numerous churches until they found permanent facilities.
1956
The second generation of the Ertel family leadership began when J. Walter Ertel's son, Walter E. Ertel, took ownership. During this period, renovations were undertaken to improve flow for family procession cars and update elements of the funeral home, including replacing the original wooden entrance doors with glass.
1995
The Ertel Funeral Home was honored by enrollment on the National and Colorado Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural integrity and deep involvement with the development of community affairs and growth. Two years later, the third generation, led by Keenan G. Ertel, purchased its own cremation unit to better serve families with evolving needs, ensuring all care remained solely with the Funeral Home.
