Our Staff | Kok Funeral Home & Cremation Service | Saint Paul Park, MN & Cottage Grove, MN

At Kok Funeral Home & Cremation Service, we are honored to have earned the trust and confidence placed in us by those that we serve. We pledge to offer respectful and dignified professional service, service that a family should expect, service that a family deserves. From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each staff member at our funeral home contributes in an important way.

MICHAEL SHEA

Licensed Funeral Director/Manager

Mike grew up in Glenwood, Minnesota, as the oldest of five children. He graduated in 1987 from Glenwood High School. In 1992, he married his high school sweetheart, Lara. They both went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1994 with degrees in Mortuary Science. They returned to their home town and served families at the Hoplin Funeral Home for over 11 years. In 2006, they moved to Missouri to work in children's ministry before returning to Minnesota in 2009. It was at that time that Mike returned to working in funeral service. Mike joined the staff at Kok Funeral Home & Cremation Service in 2011 and is honored to serve the communities in this area.

After many years of experience, Mike knows the committment necessary to work with and walk beside families during difficult situations. He feels that attention to detail and serving the individualized unique needs of each family is critical. Mike considers it an honor to be a part of that sacred moment of saying goodbye to a loved one.

Mike and his wife, Lara, have two sons and two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys being engaged in his children's lives, reading, do-it-yourself projects, playing all kinds of sports and staying active in their church.

JESSICA FENSKE

Licensed Funeral Director

Jessica Fenske grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and moved to Cottage Grove, Minnesota with her family in the spring of 2006. Jessica graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota in 2009, and has been working as a licensed funeral director since. She currently lives in St. Paul Park, Minnesota with her husband, Brad, and their daughter, Ripley. Their pet family includes a dog, Claypool, and a cat, Persia.

Jessica enjoys volunteering in her community and helping out whenever she can. It is among one of the many ways she feels like she can give back to her community.

Jessica also enjoys the outdoors, traveling, movies, and the company of her family and friends. Some recent travels have taken her to Colorado where she enjoyed skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and rollerblading. Above all, Jessica is passionate about her love for animals.

ASYA OZDEMIR

Licensed Funeral Director

Asya was born in Istanbul, Turkey and moved to Minnesota in 2000 where she grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota.

She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science in May 2018. Asya joined the staff of Kok Funeral Home in January 2019.

Asya enjoys traveling overseas and spending time with her friends, family and dog, Tang.

SUE KLICKA

Licensed Funeral Director

Sue was born and raised in Goodhue, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children. While in high school, she was active in volleyball, basketball, softball, annual staff and class leadership. She attended Mankato State University for two years, transferring to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus to pursue a degree in mortuary science. Prior to graduating, she did her internship with Kok Funeral Home in St. Paul Park. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science in 1986, and was employed with Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home in Anoka. In October 1986, Sue moved to Cannon Falls. She has been employed as a licensed mortician with Lundberg Funeral Home and Kok Funeral Home since then.

Sue married Dave Klicka in June 2003 and they have four children. She continues to play volleyball, golf and ski with her family, enjoys sports (including the Vikings!) and is involved with community activities.

GRACE HARTLEY

Funeral Director Intern

Grace is originally from Wisconsin Rapids, WI. She attended the University of Wisconsin – Stout for two years prior to transferring to the University of Minnesota. She graduated from the mortuary science program in May 2020. During her time there, she worked for Metro First Call and was president of the Mortuary Science Student Association. She has also been active with Children’s Grief Connection as a volunteer camp counselor.

While not at work, Grace enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is an avid hiker, camper, and kayaker. Some of her other hobbies include reading, finding new ice cream and coffee shops, fishing, and visiting their family cabin just outside of Winona, MN.

LARA SHEA

Pre-Arrangement Specialist/Grief Care Coordinator/Licensed Funeral Director

Lara grew up in Glenwood, Minnesota. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis graduating in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science. She married her high school sweetheart, Mike Shea and they have enjoyed working together in funeral service for many years since then.

Lara’s passion for funeral service has grown over the years in witnessing the immense meaning in those end of life moments that are marked forever. As a Pre-planning Specialist, she enjoys meeting with families to explore and discuss the many options available. And as a Grief Care Coordinator, she sees the value of supporting families long after the service is over.

Lara values her time with her husband and their children: Caleb and his wife, Kristen; Zachary; Sophia; and Elliana. She also enjoys being active in their church, mentoring, reading, biking, and helping out in whatever arenas of life their children are involved in.

SHAR ZILGE

Administrative Assistant

Shar Zilge officially joined the staff of Kok Funeral Homes as an Administrative Assistant in January 2013 after volunteering for months prior to that. She graduated from Rochelle Township High School in Illinois in 1965 but spent the majority of her life in and around Cottage Grove. She worked as an Administrative Assistant to the President of Cenex / Ag Agency. Later, she held various positions with Dakota County ending as an Executive Assistant to the Public Health Director. She retired in February 2010 to spend more time with her husband, Gene who passed away in April 2012. Shar has two children and four grandsons. In her personal time, she enjoys watching her grandchildren's sports activities, riding motorcycle, reading and traveling - especially on cruises.