Joseph E. Ratterman & Son, Inc.

Joseph E. Ratterman & Son, Inc. is a family-owned and operated funeral home deeply rooted in the Louisville, Kentucky community, serving families with compassion and integrity since 1864. Located at 7336 Southside Drive in the South End, this funeral home has been a trusted pillar for generations, offering a personalized alternative to high-cost, corporate funeral services. The business is currently led by the fifth and sixth generations of the Ratterman family, ensuring a continuity of care that honors both tradition and evolving family needs.

The history of Joseph E. Ratterman & Son is a story of dedication and service. Third-generation funeral directors Joe and Cletus Ratterman, who grew up living above the original funeral home on Market Street, returned from World War II service in the U.S. Navy and, with their father’s help, purchased the old Blanford Funeral Home on South 4th Street in the Churchill Downs neighborhood. In 1977, after Cletus retired, Joe designed and built the current facility at 7336 Southside Drive, where he and his wife Cabby lived above the funeral home for a decade before moving nearby. Joe’s eldest son, Joe Ratterman Jr., joined the business in 1982, and his grandson Joey (Joe III) became the fifth-generation funeral director in 2002. Most recently, Joseph E. Ratterman IV joined in July 2020, marking the first sixth-generation family member committed to carrying the legacy forward. This multi-generational presence means the family is intimately familiar with the local community, traditions, and cemeteries that matter most to the families they serve.

The funeral home offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to honor each unique life. These include traditional funeral services, cremation services, memorial ceremonies, graveside services, and even pet funeral services. Families have access to a wealth of resources and guidance on caskets, vaults, urns, cemetery plots, resale of plots, veteran benefits, Medicaid requirements, and more. The facility is wheelchair accessible with on-site parking and offers financial assistance and prepayment plans to ease the burden on families. Unlike regional or national conglomerates, Ratterman remains independently owned, providing a local touch and a commitment to affordable, transparent pricing.

With a perfect 5-star rating on Google Maps and a reputation built on trust, Joseph E. Ratterman & Son continues to serve families from Louisville and across Jefferson County. Whether arranging an immediate service or pre-planning for the future, the Ratterman family offers a welcoming environment where every detail is handled with care, respect, and a deep sense of community responsibility.