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.
H. Robert 'Bob' Laman
President and Funeral Director
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.
James R. 'Jim' Chiles
Gerald D. 'Gary' Kill
Operations Supervisor and
Funeral Director/Embalmer
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.
Robert P. 'Rob' Brown
Funeral Director/Embalmer
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.
Jon Kinn
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 a 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 on the Allen County 9-1-1 Board and is 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.
Jon M. Neeper
Funeral Director/Embalmer
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.
Abby Daffner
Abby Daffner – funeral director, embalmer and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles-Laman since 2017. She currently resides in Lima with her fiancé, 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.
Trevor M. Kill
Funeral Director
Paiten Stemen
Paiten graduated from Pandora-Gilboa Highschool 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. 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 Columbus Grove, Ohio with her husband Jesse and four fur children: Mousse, Athena, Stormy, and Blink. She enjoys spending time with Jesse and “the kids,” cooking for her friends and family, attending concerts, thrift shopping, and walking through local nature trails.
Patrick Orians
Funeral Director/Embalmer
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!
Demi Lynnae Burden
Pre-Planning Specialist/Funeral Director/Embalmer
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.
Robert 'Bob' Watt
Robert ‘Bob’ Watt, a senior funeral service associate and certified crematory operator, has been with Chiles – Laman since 1981. He and his wife, Bobbie, have a son, Shawn (Michelle); a daughter, Nikki (Mike) Schulte; and six grandchildren, Austin, Alyssa, Aryka, Alexis, Alyson, and Tyler. Bob graduated in 1964 from Bath High School, and attended Northwestern Business College. Bob served four years in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He is a life member of V.F.W., Post 1275; a member of B.P.O. Elks, Lodge 54; a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 370; and a member of the American Legion, Post 330 and the Moose Lodge at Indian Lake. Bob and his family attend Lima Community Church.
Tess Wohlgamuth
Tod Anderson
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.
Dawn Fisher
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.
Funeral Associates
