WALKER FUNERAL HOMES - Key Persons
Alvin W. Walker opened his first funeral chapel on Monroe Street in 1933, although he had been working in funeral service in North Toledo for years. Because of Alvin's involvement in the community and the compassion and excellence with which he treated his neighbors, his chapel soon became the area's leading funeral home.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Andrea joined our Walker family in January 2021. She is a licensed funeral director and embalmer.
Andrea graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business. In August 2016, she and her now husband William moved to Middle Tennessee with their cat to further their educations. Andrea then graduated from John A. Gupton College with an Associate of Arts in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service. She began her career at Hendersonville Funeral Home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the final resting place of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.
In August 2020, she and William moved back to Northwest Ohio with their cats and her gecko where they welcomed their son, Arlie. In her spare time, Andrea loves watching movies with William, taking naps with Arlie, visiting with her parents, hanging with her brothers, and cleaning!
Job Titles:
- Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer
- Directora
- Funeral Director at Walker Funeral Home
Bertha Lopez is an apprentice Funeral Director at Walker Funeral Home. She has been an East Toledo resident since 2001 where she attended Waite High School. She went on to continue her academic career at the University of Toledo, obtaining a BS in Psychology, and finishing her schooling at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with a Bachelor's in Mortuary Science in 2021. Bertha and her partner, Mike, currently reside in Toledo with their 3 cats. She enjoys attending concerts, cross-stitching, and reading a good book.
Bertha López es aprendiz de directora funeraria en Walker Funeral Home. Ha sido residente de Toledo desde 2001, donde asistió a la escuela secundaria Waite. Continuó su carrera académica en la Universidad de Toledo, obtuvo una licenciatura en Psicología y terminó sus estudios en el Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science con una licenciatura en Ciencias Mortuorias en 2021. Bertha y su pareja, Mike, residen actualmente en Toledo con sus 3 gatos. Le gusta asistir a conciertos, hacer punto de cruz y leer un buen libro.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, Care Center Specialist
Brian is a life-long resident of Rossford, a 1983 graduate of St. John's Jesuit High School a 1986 graduate of Madonna College and a 1987 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a 5th generation funeral director. He, his wife Wendy and Brother Mark owned and operated the former Sujkowski Funeral Home of Rossford until partnering with Walker Family Funeral Homes in late 2018. Brian is a caring and compassionate funeral director and a skilled embalmer with great attention to detail. He is proud of his Polish heritage and enjoys spending his free time at his cottage on Cub Lake in Hillsdale, MI with his family.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator - Rossford
Brooke joined our team in August 2021. She is the Office Administrator for our Rossford location. She was born and raised in Holland, Ohio and graduated from Springfield High School in 2001. She went on and finished her course work for Health Information Technology at Stautzenberger Collage. Brooke has 2 children, daughter Makayla, and son Hunter. She enjoys camping, sports, especially the Michigan Wolverines and Pittsburgh Steelers, and spending time with her huge extended family.
It is with great sadness that the family of Buckley A. "Buck" Cramer of Monclova, Ohio announce his passing ...
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator - Ottawa County
- Office Manager of the Genoa and Oak Harbor Locations
Carrie Greer joined the Walker team in December of 2019 as the office manager of the Genoa and Oak Harbor locations. She was born and raised in Fremont and a 2000 graduate of Lakota High School. Currently, Carrie resides in Elmore with her son, Ethan and their dog, Maximus. In her spare time, she enjoys their summers at Cedar Point, watching the University of Michigan and Pittsburgh Steelers football games and taking naps.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Office Manager
- Office Manager for Witzler - Shank Funeral Homes
Charla is the Office Manager for Witzler-Shank Funeral Homes. She graduated from The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science in Business Services, as well as, Associate Degrees in Marketing & Sales and Business Management Technology. After a 16 year career in banking, she joined the funeral home in 2006. Charla lives in Holland, Ohio and enjoys attending her church, traveling to Amish country and visiting the local metro parks.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director
Christine E. "Tina" Burris joined the team in April of 2019. She is a Funeral Director and Administrative Assistant at our Gerner-Wolf-Walker location in Port Clinton. She is an Ottawa County native and graduated from Danbury High School, Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio. Tina is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Port Clinton where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister; member and past president and board member of the Port Clinton Kiwanis Club; member of the Funeral Directors Association of Northwestern Ohio and member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, theatre, shopping, and spending time with family, especially her Mom, and friends.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator - Maumee
Cori joined our team in July 2020. She is the Office Administrator for our Maumee location. Cori spends most of her free time with her family including her husband, Kevin; and three children, Adarrra, Aaliyah, and Emmitt, whether going to family events or just hanging out. She is a huge Ohio State and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Job Titles:
- Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer
Originally from Monroe, MI, Curtis now calls Holland, OH his home with his wife Lisa and their three children, CJ, Lydia and Lennon. Curtis graduated from Airport High School in Carleton, MI and went on to receive an associates degree in both Art and Science at Owens Community College, as well as a bachelors degree in Mortuary Science at Wayne State University. He is passionate about living in the moment and helping others. In his free time he enjoys traveling to Hocking Hills with his family, playing Magic the Gathering and getting lost in music.
Cynthia Sue Clayton, age 55, of Lambertville, MI passed away January 17, 2022, after a brief illness. Cindy was born Oct...
David A. Ihnat, 67, of Port Clinton, passed away Sunday, February 6, 2022, at his home. He was born November 29, 1954, i...
Our hearts are deeply saddened as we mourn the loss of a dear family member, Denise Lynn. She will be remembered as a lo...
Job Titles:
- Advanced Funeral Planning Advisor
Derek was born and raised in Toledo. He entered into the family business, Toledo Printing Company, after graduating from E.L. Bowsher High School until it's closure and then continued his career in printing upon joining the Metzgers Printing and Mailing Team. As a 30+ year member of The Rotary Club of Toledo and former board member, Derek has served the local community in many different and creative ways. Throughout his career and Rotary affiliation Derek has fostered many long standing professional and personal relationships. His desire to combine his passion for serving others and have a fulfilling career is what let him to his current position of Preneed Advisor with Walker. Derek is engaged to Andrea Ohrt who is also a Toledo/Rossford native. Combined they have 4 outstanding young men, Connor, Simon, Keller & Kamden, who are all St. Francis de Sales High School alum. When not helping others, you will find Derek sailing his boat on Lake Erie, downhill skiing or cycling.
Diana Irwin, 78, of Maumee, OH has passed away on February 4, 2022, after a battle with cancer at the Hospice Center of ...
Dorsey R. Carr, Jr., 89, went home to be with his beloved Sidney in heaven on February 9, 2022. He was born on December ...
Harold Ray Geer, age 84, a native and lifelong resident of Toledo, died February 13, 2022, after a brief illness. He was...
Job Titles:
- Location Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Jada Hoover was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from St. Ursula Academy, Owens Community College and continued her education at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science in 2007. She was employed with the Witzler Shank Funeral Home in 2010 and now serves as leader of the Sujkowski-Walker Funeral Home in Rossford. Jada and her family have been living in Perrysburg since 2008. She enjoys camping, spending time outdoors, and being with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Vice President and General Manager / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Jim Ridener is a native of Franklin, OH and earned his Bachelor's degree at Miami University, Oxford and then graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He began his career at our Oak Harbor location as an apprentice in 1994. Jim now serves as vice president and as general manager. Jim also continues to work as a funeral director and embalmer. He has been heavily involved in the Ottawa County communities as a member of the Oak Harbor Rotary, where he has served as president of the club twice, Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Member and past board member, Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Port Clinton Colonial Club, Oak Harbor Marsh Club, Port Clinton Elks Lodge, Oak Harbor Masonic Lodge, Ottawa County Shrine, Port Clinton Yacht Club, and a graduate of Leadership Ottawa County. Jim is married to wife, Sara (Hineline), and they enjoy raising their four sons, Ryan and triplet brothers, Jacob, Carson, & Isaac and following all their activities and being members of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church.
James H. Whitty, 77, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away on January 29, 2022, at Arbors of Sylvania, Toledo, Ohio. Jim was born...
Job Titles:
- Advanced Funeral Planning Team Leader
Jennifer has been an Advanced Funeral Planning Advisor for over 20 years. She has helped thousands of families create meaningful and memorable funeral services. She has been recognized numerous times by various insurance companies as a leader in the Pre-Need Insurance Industry. More recently, Jennifer was promoted to Pre-Need Team Manager at Walker Funeral Homes.
In her free time, Jennifer loves to spend time with her husband, Corey. They enjoy spending time with family, friends, and their two Golden Retrievers, Sunny and Buster. They enjoy the outdoors, kayaking, and Michigan football.
John was born on October 17, 1948 He resided in West Des Moines, Iowa and he died on February 1, 2022. He &n...
Joshua John Walters, 45, of Oak Harbor, OH passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at his residence. He was born on ...
Julia Gerner founded this funeral home in Port Clinton in 1885 after operating a furniture store and undertaking business. Their nephew, William F. Wolf, joined the firm in 1917, and he inherited the funeral home years later. He was ultimately joined by his sons, Richard and James. After years of dedicated service, the chapel was purchased in 1999 by Jim and Stephania Brossia of the Robinson-Henn-Brossia Funeral Home. They renamed the business Gerner-Wolf-Brossia Funeral Home and added over 10,000 square feet of exquisite décor. This made it not just the largest funeral home in Port Clinton, but one of the largest in all of Northwest Ohio. When the Brossias retired in 2004, they sold the family business to Keith Walker.
Juvencio "Ben" Flores, Jr., 56, of Swanton, OH passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at his home. He was ...
Job Titles:
- Location Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Kaitlyn A. Bull, originally from the Columbus area, became part of the group following her graduation from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2009, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science. Before graduating from CCMS, she also attended The Ohio State University. Her desire to help people motivated her to become a funeral director as well as some inspiration from a high school project and a director from her hometown. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, watching movies and playing guitar.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Licensed Funeral Director
- Walker 's President
As Walker's president, Keith works at all of our locations, also serving as a funeral director. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Toledo, and joined the Walker staff in 1990. Keith is past president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the Sylvania Rotary Club, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce. Keith and his wife, Katy, have four sons, Henry, Teddy, Louie, and Charlie. In his free time, Keith enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating on Lake Erie, four-wheeling, snowmobiling, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Location Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
- Team Leader of Our Sylvania
A native of Oak Harbor, Kelly is team leader of our Sylvania funeral home. She is an animal lover and diligently cares for chickens, peacocks, dogs and cats at her home. Kelly also loves spending time with her family and friends, especially over tacos or macaroni and cheese. Kelly and her husband, Derek, reside in Ottawa County.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Team Leader
- Office Administrator at Maison - Dardenne - Walker
Kelsey Saddoris started as office administrator at Maison-Dardenne-Walker in 2018 and is now the leader of our "Admin Team". Originally from Houston, Kelsey has graduated from the Culinary Institute LeNotre in Houston specializing in baking and pastry, the Vet Tech Institute in Houston, and Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH specializing in Science. She and her lifelong sweetheart live in their very own "zoo" complete with their dogs, cats, and chickens. They welcomed their daughter in 2020. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys working on her home, binge-watching Netflix, traveling to new destinations, craft beer and trying new restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Hospitality and Spiritual Director
Kevin came to us in the Fall of 2021 after 31 years of ministry. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Toledo with a B.Ed and as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. He served for 11 years as Pastoral Associate For Youth at St. Ignatius Catholic Church and 20 years as the Director of Campus Ministry at St. Ursula Academy. He states that he is honored to work with the families we care for and all the incredible members of the Walker community. Kevin also loves spending time with his wife, children, and dog, Seamus,
Kimberly is the controller and finance director at Walker. More importantly, she is the staff "Mom" and makes sure all of her "Kids" have what they need to succeed in their service to families. Kimberly's keen eye, accounting experience and unmatched work ethic make her an invaluable asset in the finance department. Her compassion, care and concern for her family at both home and work make her nothing less than a wonderful mother. Kimberly can often be found outside of work sipping a nice glass of cabernet or at a local restaurant enjoying time with her husband, Jim. It is in spending time with her grandchildren, however, that she is at the height of her glory.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager - Sylvania
Kristen is the prototypical "hockey mom" and the office manager at the Sylvania Avenue location. She is married to local hockey legend, Matt Crandall, and has two children, Maizey and David. In her free time Kristen loves spending time with her family and friends. She can usually be found at whatever hockey arena her kids are playing in. She is appreciated for her sharp mind and generous heart.
Larry J. Hunkapiller, 67, of Sylvania, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 20, 2022. He was born in Toledo...
Lisa Ann Spencer, 57, of Whitehouse, Ohio died Sunday, January 30, 2022. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on February 11, 19...
Mark is a life-long resident of Rossford and is a 1984 graduate of St. Rita's School for the Deaf in Cincinnati, Ohio where his excelled in football. He has worked in the funeral business since graduation in many capacities. He and his brother Brian were the former owners of the Sujkowski Funeral Home of Rossford until they partnered with Walker Family Funeral Homes in late 2018. He is currently a specialist working out of the Walker Care Center. Mark is hardworking with attention to detail. In his free time he enjoys spending time at Cub Lake in Hillsdale, MI.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Care Center Specialist
- Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Facilities Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer / Care Center Specialist
Matthew grew up in Fremont, Ohio where he graduated from St. Joseph Central Catholic high school with the class of 2003. He continued his education at Terra State Community College, obtaining an Associate of Graphic Arts. Matthew attended Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, graduating with a bachelor degree in Mortuary Science. As a licensed Funeral Director in Michigan and Ohio, he takes great pride in being a funeral director and truly appreciates assisting families that have lost a loved one, finding it very rewarding to serve others. Matthew and his wife Melissa make their home in Bedford Twp along with their two children. As a family they spend a lot of time outdoors, on the water and camping. Cherishing time spent with family and close friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Care Center Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Mike is a lifelong resident of Oregon, Ohio and is one the primary embalmers at Walker Funeral Homes. He has established a shining reputation for his meticulous work in the preparation of those who have died. Mike has provided many families with healing memory experiences with his unique skills. He is also known for his quiet, sneaky sense of humor and is an animal lover.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Location Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Mick was born and raised in the Walbridge community. He's a graduate of Rossford High School, Bowling Green State University, and The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He began his career at Witzler- Shank and has proudly served the Walbridge community for 38 years. Mick and his wife, Bethany, live in Walbridge along with their West Highland terriers. When he has a chance to get away, he enjoys spending time with his wife at their cabin on a lake in Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Location and Crematory Leader / Funeral Director and Embalmer
Mitch has been with Walker since 1985, and now serves as a funeral director, embalmer, and chapel and crematory leader at our Robinson-Walker location. Originally from Attica, OH, Mitch earned a Mortuary Science Degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1982 after his pre-study was completed at Bowling Green State University. He and his wife, Denise, have two children: Tyler, who is a pharmacist, and Mackenzie, a registered nurse. In his free time, you can find Mitch spending time with family, traveling, and working on his home and yard. He's also involved in his church, state and local funeral associations, local politics, and the Kiwanis Club.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Group Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Molly Johnson was born and raised in Marion, Ohio. She graduated from CCMS in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science. She started her apprenticeship at Witzler-Shank Funeral Home in Perrysburg in 2007 and has been there since and is the leader of our South group of funeral homes, both Witzler-Shank-Walker and Maison-Dardenne-Walker. She is lives in Perrysburg with her husband and three children. She enjoys spending time at the lake, spending time with her family and attending her children's sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Office Administrator
Paula grew up in Perrysburg, graduated from Perrysburg High School continued to Owens Community College for Business Administration. She joined the Witzler-Shank team in 2007 as an administrative assistant and has been running the office ever since. Paula has a 20-year background in market research data analytics and coding.
Paula is known for her keen attention to detail, being very well organized and a caring compassionate person. She's enjoyed volunteering at the Perrysburg Senior Center to arranging day outings for the community. In her free time, Paula is outdoors gardening, swimming, and biking. She loves being with her family especially her grandson Brody.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Office Administrator - Oregon Chapel
Reggie has been with the company since 2013 as a funeral attendant and now also as an administrative assistant. She finds that helping families in their time of need very rewarding and enjoys hearing the stories regarding a family's loved one. In her spare time, Reggie enjoys time with her family, especially the grandkids, gardening and playing bingo.
Robin "Rob" L. Marko, 65, of Genoa, Ohio, passed away on February 5, 2022. He was born in Oregon, Ohio on Ma...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Vice President and General Manager / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Ryan joined the Walker Family in 2011 and serves as Vice President and General Manager. Originally from Shelby, OH, he grew up in Fostoria and is a proud Redmen alum. After attending Ohio State in Columbus, he was the President of his class at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and began his career in 1995. Ryan and his wife, Erica, have 10 children: Anthony Robert, Alexis Jordyn, Avery Elijah, Anderson Joshua, Adeline Kay, Adam Thomas, Ambrose Michael, Anna Therese, Abigail Mary, and Aquinas Philip. In his free time, Ryan enjoys reading philosophy and theology, writing, speaking, single malt scotch, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Shawn has served at our Maumee location for his entire career. He is a fixture in the Maumee community and is well-known and respected for his compassion and kindness as a funeral director. Shawn also has a heart for dogs and cares for our grief dog (and several others) in his home. He has three grown children and two grandchildren with whom he loves spending time and caring for.
Sherry Ann Harris, 66, of Warsaw, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on February 11, 2022. She was born on May 3, 1955, to B...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Apprentice Funeral Director
Sydney Boerst has been a Sylvania resident since 2006 where she attended Northview High School. She went on to continue her academic and athletic career at Purdue University - Fort Wayne where she obtained a BS in Psychology. She has a deep love for the Catholic faith as well as her big, extended family. In her free time she enjoys going on roadtrips, trying out new restaurants, and occasionally participating in a good debate.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Director of Community Outreach and Aftercare
Tana is a longtime resident of the Toledo area and has extensive experience with community outreach. Her out-going personality and desire for human interaction make her a natural for her position. Tana makes sure our fellow caregivers, first repsonders, local church staffs and our Walker families are being cared for by Walker Funeral Homes. She always has a smile and has been known to offer a Walker cookie to anyone at any time. Tana enjoys spending time at the lake with her husband, Mark.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Terrence Andryc joined the Walker team in 1980 and serves as a funeral director and embalmer and is our senior staff member. Originally from Rossford, OH, Terrence is a 1975 graduate of Rossford High School, a 1979 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in communications, and a 1980 summa cum laude graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He and his wife, Karen, have been married since 1980 and have two children and two granddaughters. In his free time, Terrence and Karen enjoy traveling to visit their children in Pennsylvania and Florida and venturing to the Caribbean.
Thomas E. Newton, 79, of Martin, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 12, 2022. He was born in...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Location Leader / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Tracy joined the Walker Funeral Home team in 2005 and works as our Port Clinton location leader, funeral director, and embalmer. Originally from Graytown, OH, Tracy graduated from Oak Harbor High School. He and his wife Sara have a Goldendoodle named Cooper. In his free time, Tracy enjoys playing golf and traveling with his wife.
William Curtis Pylant went home to Heaven February 9th, 2022. Bill was born April 8th, 1929 in Ruston, Louisiana. He ser...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Facilities Team
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team
- Apprentice Funeral Director
- Funeral Director at Walker Funeral
Wynelle is an apprentice Funeral Director at Walker Funeral home. A graduate of Albion College in Albion, Michigan, Wynelle has held several business and care support positions as well as being a homemaker. She is married to her husband and best friend, Joe. They enjoy spending time with their five children and working on projects around their home. In her spare time Wynelle enjoys baking, reading and taking the family pet, Bruno, for walks in the neighborhood.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mark Giglio Facilities Team