Coroner 101
Published on July 14, 2026
A Day in the Life of the Outagamie County Coroner’s Office
The Outagamie County Coroner’s Office serves our community through professional, compassionate, and careful death investigations. Many people only think about the Coroner’s Office during a tragedy, but our work is an important part of public safety and happens every day, at all hours.
Our office provides coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. A Deputy Coroner is always on call and ready to respond when a reportable death occurs. During normal business hours, Monday through Friday, administrative staff also support our work. They help with case management, records, family communication, and coordination with community partners.
On any given day, a Deputy Coroner may respond to homes, hospitals, nursing homes, accident scenes, workplaces, or other locations where a death falls under the coroner’s legal authority. We work closely with law enforcement, emergency medical services, health care providers, funeral homes, and forensic specialists to gather the information needed to determine the cause and manner of death when required by Wisconsin law.
Our responsibilities include documenting scenes, reviewing medical history, speaking with witnesses or family members, coordinating autopsies and toxicology testing when needed, completing official reports, and certifying death certificates. Just as important, we support families by explaining the investigation process, answering questions, and helping them through one of the hardest times in their lives.
Not every death is investigated by the Coroner’s Office, and not every investigation requires an autopsy. Many natural deaths that happen under a doctor’s care are certified by the treating physician. The Coroner’s Office becomes involved when a death is sudden, unexpected, unattended, violent, suspicious, work-related, or otherwise required by Wisconsin law.
Although every day is different, each investigation is guided by the same values: professionalism, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to finding the facts. Whether responding in the middle of the night, on a holiday, or during the workday, the Outagamie County Coroner’s Office is always ready to serve the community with respect and dedication.