The family and staff at Erlewein Mortuaries consider ourselves "more than a funeral home... a family friend."

Early in his career as a Funeral Director, Dane knew he wanted to operate his own mortuary. Having worked for a large firm, he wanted families he served to experience the service a smaller, family-owned mortuary could provide. In 1995, the Erlewein family - Dane, and his wife, B.J., and Bruce and his wife, Judi - decided to form a partnership and build Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield.

Knowing that location was important to the success of their business, they began searching for land. Property on US 40 at County Road 150 West was soon purchased from the Hockett family and the building process was underway in early 1996. While driving home from work in March 1996, Judi was killed in an automobile accident - only six months before the grand opening of her son's dream. Dane, B.J. and Bruce opened the mortuary in September 1996.

In the beginning, Dane managed the mortuary with administrative help from his sister, Tisha (Erlewein) Lucas. In 1999, Bruce retired as Guidance Counselor for Morristown High School after 32 years. He returned to school and became a licensed Funeral Director. B.J., a registered pharmacist, worked for a large pharmaceutical firm in Indianapolis before joining the mortuary full-time in September 2002 as Administrative Manager.

In May 2003, the Erlewein family purchased a second funeral home in Fortville, Indiana. The former Hughes Funeral Home, Fisher-McCarty Chapel, located at 124 East Staat Street, became Erlewein Mortuary – Fortville, offering the same superior service as the facility in Greenfield.

After battling health problems, Bruce decided to step away from ownership of the business in early 2004, though he continued to work at the mortuaries on a part-time basis. In March 2005, Dane and B.J. began an expansion project at the Greenfield mortuary. The original mortuary was tripled in size, offering an unmatched facility and many unique services for families. The expansion project was completed in January 2006.

Long-time friend and Funeral Director, Evan Osborn, joined the staff in November 2006.  He and his wife, Jennie, live in Knightstown with their three children.  Funeral Director Greg Johnson joined the staff in February 2007, along with his wife, Greenfield native, Holly (Porter) Johnson.  Dane and B.J. continue to operate the mortuaries with the assistance of these full-time staff members and several part-time associates.