Our Staff

Keith Walker

Owner / Licensed Funeral Director

Keith is passionate about quality memorial events and believes that each experience should reflect the unique life and personality of the person who died and their family. Hospitality and making everyone feel welcome and significant is also a high priorities.

Keith is married to Katy (Lange). He has lived in Northwest Ohio his entire life, having graduated from St. Francis de Sales School and the University of Toledo. They have four awesome college-age sons.

In the community, he is a long-time member and past-president of the Rotary Club of Sylvania, the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Maumee Area Chamber of Commerce. Other involvement has been at Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce, the Maumee Uptown Business Association, service as a past member of the Board of Directors of Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Luke's Hospital Foundation, and Flower Hospital.

For relaxation, Keith and Katy love the Lake Erie Islands and boating on the Great Lakes as well as traveling when they have a chance. They also very much enjoy time spent with family and friends.

Ryan Hobbs

COO / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Ryan joined the Walker Family in 2011 and now serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Walker companies. 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, graduating in 1995, when he began his career in funeral care. Ryan and his wife, Erica, have 10 children: Anthony Robert (wife, Helen), Alexis Jordyn (husband, Kyle Buzzi), Avery Elijah, Anderson Joshua, Adeline Kay, Adam Thomas, Ambrose Michael, Anna Therese, Abigail Mary, and Aquinas Philip; and 2 grandchildren, Scarlett Therese and Ezra John Paul Buzzi. In his free time, Ryan enjoys reading, writing, speaking, single malt scotch, Italian wine, and spending time with the people he loves.

James “Jim” Ridener

General Manager / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Jim Ridener is a native of Franklin, OH, earned his Bachelor’s degree at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, 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 General Manager of the funeral homes. 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.

Kelly Talmage

Asst. General Manager / Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

A native of Oak Harbor, Kelly is one of our amazing leaders, serving as Assistant General Manager of the funeral homes. She diligently cares for the needs of the families who entrust us with their loved one and those of her team; serving both with kindness and a certain kind of irreplaceable joy. Kelly also loves spending time with her family and friends, especially over tacos or macaroni and cheese, usually with a cold Mountain Dew in her hand. She and her husband, Derek, reside in Ottawa County with their dear son, D.J.

Kaitlyn Bull

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 feeding her squirrels.

Molly Johnson

Location 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. She is currently the leader of our Perrysburg home, now Witzler-Shank-Walker. Molly enjoys spending time at the lake and attending her children’s sporting events.

Matthew Oddo

Precision Monument Director

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.

Michael Pirolli

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.

Brian Sujkowski

Licensed Funeral Director and 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.

Laine DeLong

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer / Care Center Specialist

Laine DeLong is a first generation embalmer and funeral director, born and raised in Findlay, Ohio. She graduated from Findlay High School in 2017, and went on to pursue her dream of becoming an embalmer at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in 2018. Laine takes great pride in serving her community, and has been a part of the Walker Funeral Home’s family since July of 2023. She is an old soul that values precious moments with family and friends, crocheting on her porch, and spending time with her pup, Emma, and two cats, Churro and Clyde. Laine's mantra is “Be the change”.

Mark Sujkowski

Care Center Specialist

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.

Curtis Freimark

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer/ Certified Crematory Operator

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.

Dave Derr

Transfer Team Leader

Christine "Tina" Burris

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.

Jennifer Meehan-Meier

Licensed Funeral Director

A native of Toledo’s Point Place Community, Jennifer currently resides in Sylvania, OH with her husband and step-daughter. After completing her graduate degree in Arts Administration, she went on to pursue a career in funeral service. Jennifer has been working as a licensed funeral director since 2015. She was a 2022-2023 class graduate of the National Funeral Directors Association, National Emerging Leaders Program. Jennifer is active with the Ohio Funeral Directors Association serving on various committees and task forces. A musician at heart, she is a professional harpist who performs at churches and social events and teaches private lessons. Jennifer has been the administrative assistant for the Harp Gathering since its debut in 2008. She is a member of the Point Place Business Association where she is currently serving in the positions of Vice-President and Parade Chairwomen.

Wynelle Grady

Licensed Funeral Director

Wynelle is a licensed 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.

Delaney Hayes

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Delaney Hayes joined the Walker Funeral Homes team in January 2024, and obtained her license as a funeral director and embalmer in February of 2025. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 2021. She earned an Associate degree of Individualized Study – Mortuary Science from Terra State Community College in 2022. Then, she went on to graduate summa cum laude from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2023, where she received her bachelor’s degree. In her free time, Delaney enjoys spending time with her friends, trying new restaurants, and being outdoors on a nice day. She resides in Oak Harbor with her dog, Chesney.

Parker Cornwell

Apprentice Funeral Director

Parker was born and raised in Findlay, OH, but spent his adult life in the Toledo area, now residing in Metamora. After getting his bachelor’s degree, he graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Reformed Evangelical Pastors College. He joined Walker in 2023 and finds great fulfillment helping grieving families honor their loved ones. He lives with his wife Jeannette and their children, Marie, Jedidiah, Gravenor, Charles, Nika, Jerusha, and soon-to-be-born baby boy. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, renovating his house, camping, reading, and being involved at Christ the Word Church.

Beth Miller

Apprentice Funeral Director

Henry Walker

Apprentice Funeral Director

Henry is honored to continue his family’s long tradition of compassionate funeral service
in northwest Ohio. As a fourth-generation member of the Walker family in this profession, he’s proud to serve the community through his ongoing apprenticeship.

A 2019 graduate of St. Francis De Sales High School, Henry was a member of the football team and served as captain of the lacrosse team during his senior year. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Toledo.

Henry values time with family and friends and enjoys reading, music, boating, and cheering on THE Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns. He splits his time between Port Clinton and Sylvania, Ohio.

Reggie Smith

Funeral Assistant

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.

Kevin Shannon

Hospitality and Spiritual Director

Kevin came to us in October of 2020 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,

Caitlin Heinze

Marketing Specialist

Caitlin joined the Walker team in July 2025. A Toledo native and graduate of St. Ursula Academy, she recently earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Management and a Certificate in Graphic Design. Caitlin was a competitive swimmer for 15 years, competing at the club and high school levels before joining the University of Toledo Women’s Swim & Dive team at the Division I level. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Kennedy Heidt

Graphic Designer / Administrative Assistant

Shana Sadoski

Director of Grief Support and Community Education

Shana Joined the Walker Family in 2023 to help create the new role for Walker Funeral Homes as Director of Grief Support and Community Education. Shana graduated from The University of Toledo with a master’s degree in social work in 2016. Her love of learning, particularly in the field of death education, had her continue her school journey at Bowling Green State University where she earned her master’s degree in public health in 2017.Shana has made a career from her experience with end of life, death, and grief. From the many years she spent volunteering for hospice patients to working for a local non-profit specializing in walking along side children and families who are grieving the loss of someone they loved; Shana has loved every experience that she has had in this field. She takes great pride in her work as a death educator, and she hopes her educational opportunities will inspire more people to having meaningful conversations about what their hopes and wishes are for a meaningful end of life, peaceful death, and a memorial ceremony to support their loved ones as they journey through grief. Shana lives just over the line in Lambertville, Mi with her husband, Brad, and their 3 children, Taylor, Benson, and Jaxon. She enjoys watching her kids in their various sports and finding new dessert places to try with her husband

Jennifer Waldron

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.

Stephenie Miller

Advanced Planning Specialist

Kimberly Perkins

Director of Finance

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.

Carrie Greer

Office Manager - Ottawa County / Admin Team Leader

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.

Paula Joehlin

Office Manager - Perrysburg

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.

Amber Stranyak-Keesee

Office Administrator - Sylvania

Kim Lauman

Administrative Assistant

Marty Patrilla

Facilities Team Leader

Marty grew up in Oregon, OH and now calls Toledo home. He joined the Walker team in July 2019. A graduate of St. Francis de Sales high school and the University of Cincinnati, Marty spent 15 years coaching football and continues to bring that same dedication and attention to detail to his work today. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and seeking out new adventures.

Ruben Gonzalez

Facilities Team

Tucker

Comfort Dog

Tucker is a golden retriever and his birthday is June 21st. He has his AKC Therapy Dog (THD) certification and has gone through Basic and Advanced Obedience training. Tucker likes to comfort others by sitting close to them and searching for as many pets as possible. He even offers a warm smile when he's very happy to see someone. Tucker's favorite treat is peanut butter biscuits and he loves to play outside with his brother Luka, take long walks at the park, and play fetch!