John I. Suminski

John I. Suminski, who founded the Suminski Funeral Home which is still in business at 1218-1220 East Brady Street, was the son of Polish immigrants who came to Milwaukee in 1873. Suminski was born on October 28, 1878. His father was a city employee and later a liquor store owner. Suminski grew up in the East Brady Street area and attended St. Hedwig's grade school. In 1905 he became a funeral director (then called an undertaker). He also became president of the People's Building and Loan Association, founded in that year by a number of Polish businessmen.

Like many other undertakers at that time, he offered his services in connection with a livery business. The livery building which he moved into in 1905, after a brief stay in a building on North Humboldt Avenue, still stands at 1729-1731 North Pulaski Street, one block north of the district. In 1916 Suminski built the present Tudor style funeral home located at 1218-1220 East Brady Street. The Suminski Funeral Home, now run by the founder's descendents, is believed 2to be the oldest extant business in the East Brady Street Historic District.