Our Staff

Our dedicated and supportive staff are here to guide you through this difficult journey. We take pride in doing our absolute best to ensure your needs are met. We are here for you.

Todd Harder
Managing Funeral Director

Email: todd.harder@birchfc.com
Phone:  (204) 346-1030

Todd Harder – Managing Funeral Director. Todd has been involved in the funeral industry for many years. Together with his wife MaryLou they moved from Winnipeg to Steinbach to start working at Birchwood in February 2001. On their down time they enjoy family vacations travelling in their motorhome with their two children. 

Kris Bachmeier
Assistant Managing Funeral Director

Email:   kris.bachmeier@birchfc.com
Phone: (204) 346-1030

Kris joined Birchwood Funeral Chapel in November 2016. Kris resides in Steinbach, Manitoba, with his wife, Kari, and five children: Tara, Andrew, Jasper, Ryker and Yoshiyahu. Kris enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, catching a baseball game, and shooting hoops with his kids in the backyard.

Brad Unger
Funeral Director

Email: brad.unger@birchfc.com
Phone:  (204) 346-1030

Brad joined the Birchwood staff in 2008, becoming a licensed funeral director in 2010. He, his wife Korine, and his children Elijah and Emma, live in Steinbach. Brad really enjoys spending time with his family. He has been serving as an HSD School Board trustee since 2014.

Sheldon Schroeder
Funeral Director

Email:  sheldon.schroeder@birchfc.com
Phone:  (204) 346-1030

Sheldon Schroeder started working at Birchwood in September 2017 and comes with years of experience in funeral service. He and his wife Kerri make their home in Kleefeld, with their daughter. Sheldon enjoys travelling, watching his favourite football teams, the Blue Bombers and Vikings, and spending time with his family.

Jordan Martens
Funeral Director Apprentice

Email:   jordan.martens@birchfc.com

Phone:  (204) 346-1030

 Jordan joined the team at Birchwood Funeral Chapel in the spring of 2022.  Married in the fall of 2021, Jordan and his wife Emma live in Steinbach, both enjoy making music together, spending time outdoors and investing their time into the youth at their church. 

Ernest Dyck
Funeral Director Assistant

Phone:  (204) 346-1030

Ernie joined our team in summer of 2007. He comes with a rich background in music ministry and carpet installation. Ernie and his wife Marlene live in Grunthal. They have 2 adult sons – both married, and six grandchildren. 

Rick Friesen

Funeral Director Assistant

Phone:  (204) 346-1030

Richard Friesen started working at Birchwood in September of 2021. After taking some time away from the funeral industry, he decided to return to a profession he feels very passionate about. Rick enjoys spending quality time with his family and spending time working on his yard. 

Eunice Falk
Office/Bookkeeper

Email: eunice.falk@birchfc.com
Phone: (204) 346-1030

Eunice joined the staff in our Steinbach office in the summer of 2006. She comes with many years of experience working in office settings and is a real asset to Birchwood. Eunice and her husband, Tony have three sons, one of whom is married. They enjoy long car trips and spending time with their adult children. 

Rachael Penner

Office Administrator 


Rachael joined Birchwood staff in August 2022 as office administrator. Rachael and her husband Paul live on a small farm in Ste. Anne were they enjoy gardening, raising chickens, and spending time outdoors. Rachael is currently on maternity leave as they await the arrival of their first baby, due in October 2023.

Desiree Plewman

Office Administration

Email: desiree.plewman@birchfc.com
Phone: (204) 346-1030

Desiree started working at Birchwood in August 2017. After a brief sabbatical, she is happy to be back at Birchwood as the office administrator. She and her husband Dustin live on 40 acres in the country with their children. Together they love to spend their time watching hockey and being with family. On their downtime they enjoy family vacations and traveling to warm destinations. 

Kristin Friesen
Office Assistant

Email: kristin.friesen@birchfc.com
Phone: (204) 346-1030

Kristin Friesen joined the Birchwood office staff as our new part-time office assistant in March 2023. Kristin and her husband Chip live on the edge of Steinbach. They love to spend time cheering for their two childrens’ teams at the hockey arena, or cruising all together down the local cross country ski trails in winter or bike paths in summer.