Our Company History
Founded in 1973 by William R. Toson, Tribute originally focused on providing sales and marketing assistance to local cemeteries and funeral homes in Wisconsin. This consulting was focused on implementing and developing preneed sales programs to the community in order to help cemeteries and funeral homes concentrate on current success and guaranteed growth for the future.
Prior to founding Tribute, William represented the third generation of the Toson family to be in the cemetery profession, following his father, Robert W. Toson, Uncle Harold N. Toson and Grandfather, Harold E. Toson, who all owned Pinelawn Memorial Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which continues to be owned by the Toson family and other cemeteries in the Midwest. In addition to Pinelawn, Tribute owns three other prominent cemeteries in Wisconsin which continue to focus on preplanning and embracing lives and history through memorialization.
In 1983, Tribute expanded into the precast concrete business by starting up Tribute Precast Systems, which supplies precast concrete burial products on a wholesale basis to cemetery owners and managers. This division of Tribute developed from burial vaults to crypts, niches, septic tanks and other precast concrete accessories.
In 1985, Tribute added another division to the company: Tribute Design Systems which is an architectural and design arm of the company, offering cemeteries and funeral homes layouts, designs, construction documents, building and facility design for a myriad of elements to enhance, improve and add inventory.
In 2012, after 18 years of holding various positions within the cemetery operations and within the corporate office, Christine assumed full responsibility of The Tribute Companies, Inc., adding complimentary products, services and depth to the organization to help clients enhance their operations successfully. Christine succeeded her father, Bill, in 2016 when he retired from the company and continues to serve on Tribute’s board of directors.
Tribute’s expertise evolved into contracting and construction of a variety of projects, including mausoleums, columbariums, administration buildings and maintenance facilities. We are proud to continue the legacy of the Toson family offering exceptional services to exceptional owners and managers. Tribute is your full service provider from concept to construction for all of your end-of-life development needs.
Contact Tribute today to learn more about our cemetery supply company for complete funeral home and cemetery products and services.
