HISTORY OF REX VAULT & MAUSOLEUM SERVICE, INC.

 Rex Vault & Mausoleum Service originated February 20, 1956, in the H. O. Smith Cold Storage building on East Jourdan Street in Newton, Illinois, where the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce office is presently located.  The business was owned by Roland L. Clark and managed by O. J. Bolander.  The original work crew included Lewis Cochran, E. E. Kerner, and Oscar Kibler.  Concrete burial vaults were manufactured using a one-half bag mixer.  The first vault (the Rex vault) was set and sealed on April 16, 1956, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ste. Marie, Illinois.  Four-wheeled dollies were used to handle the vaults.  These dollies were pushed manually across the cemetery to the grave.  A tent over the gravesite was also customary. 

Construction began on the present plant on the south side of Highway 33 at the east edge of Newton in 1957.  The business then moved to this location in 1958. 

On January 1, 1964, O. J. Bolander purchased Rex Vault Service from Roland L. Clark. 

Rex Vault Service began manufacturing concrete septic tanks in addition to the burial vaults in 1965. 

In 1970, the production and distribution of Doric brand burial vaults began. 

Mark Bolander, O.J.’s son, joined the business in June, 1980. 

In May, 1982, the production and distribution of  Norweco Singulair wastewater treatment systems began. 

A new office and storage building was erected on the north side of Highway 33 in December, 1982. 

On November 1, 1983, the company incorporated. 

O. J. passed away on July 31, 1995, leaving Mark the sole owner. 

The buildings on both sides of Highway 33 have been expanded many times.  The office area on the north side of Highway 33 was renovated in 1999 to enable the office staff to work more effectively and professionally.  In 2001, Rex Vault Service acquired the Jasper County Highway garage immediately east of its production facility to allow expansion of the business. 

In 2006, a $400,000 expansion was completed.  A Mix-Mixer Systems concrete batch plant was installed in order to automate and make production more efficient. 

Self-propelled vault trailers are used to handle the vaults.  Boom trucks are used to deliver and set the septic and aeration tanks.  There are currently 20 employees.