Our Staff

A Family Dedicated to Service Since 1928

At Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, our team of experienced funeral professionals is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you contact us, you can count on a single, dedicated individual who will stay in contact with you and guide you through the decision-making process.

We understand that planning a funeral can be a difficult and emotional time, which is why we take the time to carefully explain all of your options and make recommendations at your request. Our goal is to ensure that every detail is taken care of, so that you and your family can focus on remembering your loved one and honoring their life in a meaningful way.

Our team is committed to providing personalized service that reflects your family’s unique needs and preferences. Whether you choose a traditional funeral or cremation services, we will work with you to create a service that honors your loved one’s memory in a way that is special and meaningful to you.

Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services Team
H. Robert 'Bob' Laman

H. Robert 'Bob' Laman

President and Funeral Director

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Robert “Bob” Laman, President, Funeral Director and Certified Crematory Operator has been with Chiles-Laman since 1970. He and his wife, Ginny, have two children, Lisa (Jack) Rigali and Laura (Anthony) Kline. They have four grandchildren, Isabella and Isaac Rigali, and Jaxson and Aubrey Kline. Bob graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1973 and from Northwestern Business College in 1975. He received his Funeral Director license in 1989. He is a member and past president of the Lima Noon Optimist Club since 1980. Bob is a member of Shawnee Country Club, B.P.O. Elks Lodge 54, the Service Club golf league and the Westgate Wednesday night bowling league. Professionally, he belongs to the Ohio and National Funeral Directors Association. Bob and Ginny attend First Baptist Church where he serves on the Board of Trustees.

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Gerald D. 'Gary' Kill

Gerald D. 'Gary' Kill

Operations Supervisor and
Funeral Director/Embalmer

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Gerald D. ‘Gary’ Kill, Operations Supervisor, funeral director/embalmer and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles – Laman since 1994. Gary and his wife, Tammy, have five sons, Jordan, Andy, Harrison, Samuel, and Gary; and three daughters, Hope, Faith, and Joy. Gary was a 1989 graduate of Spencerville High School, and attended the Ohio State University, Lima and Lima Technical College, before graduating from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1993. Previously, Gary had been a member of the Lima Kiwanis Club for fifteen years, and had served on their Board of Directors. Professionally, Gary belongs to the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and is a certified eye enucleator with the Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank. He and his family are members of Restoration Temple Church.

 

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Robert P. 'Rob' Brown

Robert P. 'Rob' Brown

Funeral Director/Embalmer

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Robert P. ‘Rob’ Brown, a funeral director/embalmer and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles – Laman since 1997. He and his wife, Denise, have a son, Alan Hankinson. In 1988, Rob graduated from New Lexington High School, New Lexington, OH. He was honored in 2013, by being inducted onto the Perry County Baseball Hall of Fame. He attended Ohio University before graduating from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1993, and became licensed in 1994. Rob is currently vice president and had been past president of the Lima Kiwanis Club; member and past master of Fort Amanda Lodge #706 Free and Accepted Masons; member and past high priest of the Lima Chapter #49 Royal Arch Masons; member and past illustrious master of council #20 Royal & Select Masons; and member and current Commander and past Commander of Shawnee Commandery #14 Knights Templer; member of Ohio Priory #18 Knight of the York Cross of Honor; 32nd degree Mason Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton; member of Knights of Columbus council #2661 of Lima. Professionally, Rob is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and is a certified eye enucleator with the Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank. Rob and his family attend St. Charles Catholic Church.

 

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Jon Kinn

Jon Kinn

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Jon Kinn, a funeral director/embalmer and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services since 1991 where he started mowing the yard, washing the cars and working visitations and funerals.  In 1993, Jon graduated from Bluffton High School, and in 1997, he graduated from Bluffton College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing/Management).  Then, in 1998, Jon graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, became licensed in 2000 and is the manager of the Bluffton funeral home.  Jon is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he is an active member of their convention committee, National Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Embalmers Association.  Jon is the Fire Chief of the Bluffton Fire Department and serves as the President of the Allen County Fire Chiefs Association.  Jon also serves as a board member for the Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.  Jon is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bluffton.  He and his wife, Mandy, live in Bluffton.  Jon enjoys boating, water sports, bowling and spending time outdoors and at his cottage on the Sandusky River.

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Jon M. Neeper

Jon M. Neeper

Funeral Director/Embalmer

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Jon M. Neeper, CFSP, a funeral director/embalmer was born and raised in Lima, OH and attended St. Charles Catholic Grade School and Lima Central Catholic High School graduating with Honors in 1988. He attended The Ohio State University, Lima campus for two years before transferring to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and graduating in 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science.

 

After graduation he worked at several different funeral homes in Tiffin, Toledo, Marion, and Delphos before coming back to Lima in 1998. In 2015, he received the distinction of Certified Funeral Services Practitioner (CFSP) from The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and is the only one in Allen County.

He is married to Chandra (Lewis) Neeper and has a stepdaughter, Aizlynn. He is a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church, Lima Central Catholic Alumni Association, Knights of Columbus – Lima and a 4th degree Knight, Bishop Neumann CssR, Assembly # 829, Westgate and The Boulevard Neighborhood Associations.

He currently serves as the President of 3rd District Ohio Funeral Directors Association since 1998 and has also been on the OSHA/EPA committee for over 10 years. In January 2019, he was elected to serve as the 7th Ward City Councilman for Lima and is the chairman of the Finance Committee and on the Utilities Committee. He is also the co-chairman of the Lima Bark Park Building Campaign.

He is an avid Lima Central Catholic T-Bird fan and regularly attends many different sporting events and school fund raisers and is also an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan and attends many games both in Columbus and across the country.

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Abby Chandler

Abby Chandler

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Abby Chandler – funeral director, embalmer and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles-Laman since 2017. She currently resides in Lima with her husband, Jeremy, and their dog and cat, Urban and Norman.  In 2010, Abby graduated from Troy High School and she went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a certificate in religious studies. In 2015, Abby graduated summa cum laude from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and went on to serve her apprenticeship in Northern Kentucky. She became licensed in Kentucky in 2016 and in Ohio in 2017. Abby is a member of the Lima Noon Sertoma Club and she attends South Side Christian Church with Jeremy. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, cross stitch, spending time outside and Steelers football.

 

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Trevor M. Kill

Trevor M. Kill

Funeral Director

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Trevor M. Kill, a funeral director and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles – Laman since 2015. Trevor and his wife, Danielle, have two daughters, Grace Anne and Gwenyth “Gwen” Opal. Trevor and his family attend St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Trevor’s wife is a teacher at Elida Middle School. In 2009, Trevor graduated from Memorial High School in St. Marys, Ohio. In 2013, he graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. He was an honor student at Southeast Missouri and recognized in the Ohio Valley Conference. In 2016, Trevor graduated with an associates degree in Mortuary Science at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Trevor played in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League with the Grand Lake Mariners located in Celina, Ohio. Trevor enjoys watching the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Reds. He also enjoys spending time with his family, close friends and playing golf with his dad and close friends. .
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Paiten Dulaney

Paiten Dulaney

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Paiten Dulaney is Funeral Director and Embalmer, who serves the community with a gentle hand and heart.

Paiten graduated from Pandora-Gilboa High School in 2017 before attending James. A Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in December of 2020, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She started her journey with Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes in 2017 shortly after graduating high school, before earning her licensure in 2022. In addition to being a Funeral Director and Embalmer, she is also a Certified Funeral Service Celebrant and Certified Crematory Operator. 

Paiten currently resides in Bluffton. She enjoys spending time at the gym, walking through local nature trails, cooking for her friends and family, attending concerts, reading and spending time with her cat, Mustard. 

 

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Patrick Orians

Patrick Orians

Funeral Director/Embalmer

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Patrick “Pat” A. Orians has been a funeral director/ embalmer since 1983, and has been living in Allen county and serving local families since 1986. Pat grew up in Carey, Ohio, attending Our Lady of Consolation School, and Carey High School. He attended Findlay College, and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1982. He began his career in Fostoria, and joined Siferd Funeral Home in 1986. Pat managed the Delphos and Ottoville locations until 2006. Pat managed the Lima location until it was sold in 2019. Pat joined Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services in August 2019. In addition to his role as a funeral director/embalmer, he is a certified crematory operator, and also assists in advanced planning as a licensed insurance agent. He is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Pat is a member of Knights of Columbus and Lima Noon Sertoma, and is active in the local Alzheimer’s Association as the logistics chairman for the Walk To End Alzheimer’s. After meeting his wife, Kim, on a blind date, they have been married since 1990 and are now empty-nesters in Elida, after having raised a daughter, Abby, and son, Logan. Abby and husband Jordan welcomed a baby boy, Riley, in 2023. Pat is looking forward to helping to teach his first grandchild how to fish and hunt!

 

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Demi Lynnae Burden

Demi Lynnae Burden

Pre-Planning Specialist/Funeral Director/Embalmer

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Demi Burden, Pre Planning Specialist/Funeral Director/Embalmer. Demi has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 2015. She joined Chiles Laman, in 2018 as the Pre-Planning Specialist. Demi and her husband Matthew have four children, Natalie, Erica, Henry ‘Hank’ and Eliza. Demi is a Lima, Ohio native and a graduate from Shawnee High School, class of 2008. During her years in high school, she was an avid horse showman staying very active with her 4-H group and becoming a Life Member of the Ohio Western Horse Association. She also enjoyed being in theater and performing in plays and in Ohio District 3 music events. After graduating Demi went on to continue her education with The Ohio State University, and then earned a bachelors in Mortuary Science from The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Demi is an active member of the Lima Rotary Club and will serve as club president in the year 2025. She loves donating her time to help better the Lima area and stays very involved with the new developments in the downtown area. She is very happy to be a part of Chiles – Laman Funeral Home to continue her work with those in our community.

 

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James R. 'Jim' Chiles

Ella Schulte

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Ella Schulte joined the Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services family in April of 2023 and became a licensed funeral director in the spring of 2025 after graduating from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and completing her apprenticeship at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services.  Ella previously worked with the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in the donation program.

Ella enjoys getting to learn new skills and techniques from our talented staff, connecting with new families and being able to help in any way she can.

When Ella isn’t working at the funeral home she loves being outdoors and in the sunshine, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services is proud to have caring and compassionate staff like Ella Schulte.  Thank you for your service to our families and our community.

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James R. 'Jim' Chiles

James R. 'Jim' Chiles

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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James R. ‘Jim’ Chiles, a funeral director/embalmer, has been with Chiles – Laman for over forty years. Jim and his wife, Betsy, have three daughters, Bethany (Scott) Torbet, Catherine (David) Fisher, and Stephanie (Philip) Beauvais; and eight grandchildren. In 1958, Jim graduated from Lima Senior High School; and he attended Wittenberg University, Springfield. In 1963, Jim graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, and became licensed in 1964. Jim is a member of the Lima Rotary Club; a member of Shawnee Country Club; and is a member of the Allen County Visionaries. Professionally, Jim belongs to the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Jim and his wife are members of First Baptist Church.
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Tess Wohlgamuth

Tess Wohlgamuth

Office Manager

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Tess Wohlgamuth, Tess is an Elida High School graduate, class of 1987. She continued her education at Rhodes State College where she earned her associate degree. Tess stays involved in the community through the work she does at her church. She is a member of Lima Community Church, where she volunteers with the young adult ministries, also serves in the church café, and sings in the choir. Tess is married to Kip Wohlgamuth, and together they have two children Kyra, and Dylan. Tess has been with Chiles-Laman for 9 years, along with her office manager duties she also takes on the task of helping families work through the insurance claims process. Tess loves helping families through a hard time, and is a valued member of the Chiles-Laman team.
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James R. 'Jim' Chiles

Tod Anderson

Funeral Service Associate
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Tod Anderson is a 1981 graduate of Bath High School and attended the OSU Lima Campus. Tod and his wife Kim live in Spencerville. Together they have three sons, Jayden, Joel – wife Adelynn, and Jase. Tod has been involved in the Funeral Service starting in 1980 and is a licensed Crematory Operator. He has been employed with Chiles-Laman since 2019. Tod enjoys spending time with family, music, playing drums, camping and their small hobby farm animals.

 

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James R. 'Jim' Chiles

Dawn Fisher

Administrative Assistant
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Dawn Fisher is an Allen East High School graduate, class of 1999. Dawn has been with Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services since 2021. Dawn stays involved in the community through her church. She is a member of Lafayette Congregational Christian Church, where she volunteers with Vacation Bible School. Dawn is married to Scott Fisher and they have a daughter and 2 granddaughters. Dawn enjoys reading, taking pictures and being on her farm.
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Funeral Associates

Funeral Associates