Our Caring Staff

Meet our Funeral Directors & Support Staff

Committed to assisting you in commemorating your cherished one, our team possesses extensive experience in serving families from diverse backgrounds. We are accessible around the clock, reachable through email or phone, ensuring continuous support whenever you need it. With patience, compassion, and unwavering professionalism, our team remains dedicated and readily available to attend to your needs.

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Katharine Wagner-Elfner

Funeral Director, Owner

Katharine was born and raised in South York and graduated from the Oldfields School in Glencoe, Maryland, in 2005. She attended Albright College for a year, where she initially enrolled as a Pre-Med major but left at the end of her freshman year undecided. She took time off from school and eventually worked in an outside sales position, covering York and Adams Counties. As time passed, something within her drew her to pursue a career in the funeral industry. In 2017, after almost 12 years of being in sales, she decided to return to school full-time, working simultaneously, and finished the credits needed to apply to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. She left her sales career to pursue a position at the former Burg Funeral Home, Inc. in 2019. Katharine completed her required internship and embalmings at Burg and graduated from PIMS in 2021, becoming a licensed funeral director in Pennsylvania in January of 2022. Since meeting with the former owners of Burg and learning of their desire to retire, Katharine made it her goal to learn every aspect of the business to eventually own the funeral home, which became a reality on May 16, 2023. She and her husband, Nathan, have two boys, Sam and Maxwell, who are often at the funeral home along with their two golden doodles, Pete and Frank. In her free time, Katharine enjoys spending time with her boys, cooking, running, cruising, and the weekly Sunday family dinners at her in-laws. Katharine loves being a funeral director and being the first point of contact with a family, from the first person to the last person, seeing them through the entire process of putting their loved one to rest. To be able to receive a call from a family who has lost a loved one and being given the honor to care for a decedent is a privilege.

From Katharine: I am humbled to carry on the legacy of the Burgs with my own added touch and will always strive to do my very best to make sure your experience with our funeral home is memorable and pleasing. We are a locally owned and operated funeral home, and our goal is to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere for the families we serve. Having a peaceful environment for families where they can relax during arrangements and know we are with them through the entire funeral process is extremely important to me. If you need a hug, we will give you one, and if you need to cry, we are always here to listen. Your loved one is special to us, and it's necessary for us to understand who they were so we can create a service to honor their legacy. We are easily accessible by phone or text and are available at your convenience.

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Nathan Elfner

Co-Owner

Nathan was born and raised in Red Lion and graduated from Red Lion High School in 2005. He obtained his Bachelors of Business Administration & Marketing from Penn State University and has worked as a realtor with Century 21 Dale Realty Company in Red Lion since 2009. While Nathan is still involved in the day to day operations at the funeral home, he is still active in real estate and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. He enjoys interacting with the families at the funeral home and assisting with all funeral services. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, playing golf, traveling and being at home with his family.

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Chad M. Lutz

Funeral Director

Chad M. Lutz was born and raised in Columbia. He graduated from Columbia High School and went on to graduate from Lebanon Valley College, where he earned a degree in Biology with a minor in Religious Studies.

Following his graduation from LVC, he decided to follow a calling he had since being an Altar Server at Funeral Masses, and pursue becoming a funeral director. He graduated from Catonsville Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science. Following his internship, he became a licensed funeral director in 1999. He has spent over 25 years serving the people of York and Lancaster Counties. In 2024, he was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors.

He currently resides in Wrightsville with his wife, Courtney, and their children. In his free time, Chad loves to be outside, whether taking care of his lawn, working in his vegetable garden, or pulling a bass out of the Susquehanna while in his kayak.

He is excited to join the Wagner-Elfner and Burg Funeral Home and Cremation Services and continue his dedication to serving those experiencing the loss of a loved one.

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Adelyn Rotz

Funeral Director

Adelyn Rotz, known as “Addie,” is a 2008 graduate of Dover High School and earned her degree from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2012. With over a decade of experience as a licensed funeral director, Addie has compassionately served families throughout the Red Lion and York communities.

Outside of her profession, Addie enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly kayaking and visiting the beaches of the Carolinas and Florida. She is also deeply committed to animal rescue, with a special focus on caring for senior dogs. Addie currently resides in the Stony Brook area with her son, Farin, and their beloved fur babies.

She is honored to be part of the Wagner-Elfner and Burg team and looks forward to continuing her mission of providing support and guidance to families during their time of need.

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Dakota Bryant

Funeral Assistant

Dakota was born and raised in West Central Florida and graduated from Durant High School in Plant City, Florida, in 2018. He lived in Florida until he was 19 years old and moved to Alabama in 2019. In Alabama, Dakota began a career in construction. In 2021, he then moved to Pennsylvania, where he worked in construction until he became employed at the former Burg Funeral Home, Inc. Since working there, Dakota has taken a great interest in the funeral home industry. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports. He looks forward to continuing his career at the funeral home. With Dakota’s southern charm, you will always be greeted by “Ma’am” or “Sir”.

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Walt Winemiller

Funeral Assistant

Walt has dedicated 30 years to the fire service, volunteering with both Alliance Fire and Rescue Services and North Hopewell-Winterstown Fire Company. He is a proud graduate of Red Lion High School and finds great joy in spending time with his two children. His daughter, Alexis, lives in Japan with her husband, who serves in the Navy. Walt’s son, Gavin, is currently a senior at Red Lion High School. Walt’s years of service and strong family ties are central to who he is, and he continues to be an active and valued member of his community.

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Julie Beard

Funeral Assistant

Julie has spent a lifetime in Red Lion connecting with others through music, usually playing the piano or organ and accompanying a soloist or group. She counts Mr. Donald M. Warner and Mrs. Gladys F. Slenker as mentors and is grateful for their influence.

Her greatest joy, however, is her family, daughters Lauren and Hannah, and more recently her 2 beautiful granddaughters, on whom Julie's sun rises and sets. Julie and her husband Jeff, are involved in the Red Lion Historical Society and the AACA Museum in Hershey. They enjoy traveling, naming Mount Rushmore, Mount Washington, and the Grand Canyon as highlights so far!

A retired educator, Julie teaches piano lessons in her home and practices yoga several times a week.

As a member of the Wagner-Elfner and Burg team, Julie especially values joining together with a purposeful connection while a loved one is honored, and their lifetime is celebrated.

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Ron Rosen

Funeral Assistant

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Terri Elfner

Funeral Assistant

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Molly York

Funeral Assistant

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Muriel Slenker

Funeral Assistant

Muriel is a lifelong resident of the Windsor-Red Lion-Dallastown areas and has a deep interest in local history, as well as York County and American history. After graduating from Dallastown High School in 1968, she married Denny, who was serving in the US Navy Seabees. Later in life, she attained a degree from Lancaster Bible College. Muriel and Denny are lifelong, active members at Chapel Church of Red Lion. They have one wonderful daughter, LeeAnn, and son-in-law, Stephen, and the joy of their life is their grandson, Elijah; they are very proud step-grandparents of two beautiful step-granddaughters and one young step-great-granddaughter. As a Certified Lay Minister in the Global Methodist Church, with more than forty years of lay speaker experience, Muriel has a passion for sharing the love of God with others through serving and encouraging in various capacities. Even more than speaking or teaching God.

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Seth Gingrigh

Funeral Assistant

Seth finds joy in serving others and spreading kindness wherever he goes. Outside of work, he treasures time with his beautiful family - his wife and their three boys.

With a heart for helping, Seth has been involved in the volunteer fire service since he was 14. Always ready with a smile and a helping hand, he’s dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those around him.