Geisen Funeral Home showcased its expertise in coffins during the inaugural Coffin Cup held on Saturday. The event saw their team sprint their creatively designed “Corpse Bride” coffin 100 yards on Main Street, earning $2,500 for the charity Golden Hope Ministries.
The team, described as “mad scientists,” also won the Spirited Award for their imaginative costumes and coffin design, adding another $500 to their winnings. The creativity extended to their portrayal of bringing a ‘forever person’ back to life.
Members from the Geisen Funeral Home team pushed their coffin down Main Street during the event on October 24, 2026. Organized in collaboration with First United Methodist Church, the event received support from community members like Jean Lahm, who was instrumental in assembling the winning coffin racer and team.
Draper, PACE Director, expressed excitement over the turnout, estimating around 1,000 attendees. “The weather is great,” he said. “It’s festive and creative with coffins and kids in costumes.” The creative event drew crowds as part of the city’s annual Pumpkin Walk.
Skylar Kroner, a server and bartender at Tavern on Main, participated with a Mario-themed coffin in the races. The Coffin Cup required participating teams to build their own coffin racers and choose nonprofit organizations to represent.
Teams like Burns Funeral Home, Centier Bank, Legacy Environment Services, and Geisen co-sponsored the event. Mayor Pete Land praised the entries for their enthusiasm and craftsmanship, ultimately declaring Geisen Funeral Home the winner over the YMCA’s Ghostbusters team.
Lincoln Geisen, a young participant, presented the first-place trophy to the winning team. Mere hustle defined the races, as seen with a team drawn from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” whose costumes added humor and creativity, though they faced challenges with their faux chainmail.
Meanwhile, Rick Monroe, a team participant, mentioned future ideas for the event, citing a proposal inspired by “Cool Runnings.” Participants like Kyle Sokowicz brought gaming nostalgia to life with Super Mario Bros. themes, adding fun and engagement to the races.
Barbara Chrusciel, dressed as Snow White’s evil queen, enjoyed the atmosphere, sharing a basket of “poison” apples with participants. Overall, the event fostered community spirit and creativity, leaving attendees and participants eager for future events.