Randy L. Grimes, CFSP, CFC, CPC, CCO

Funeral Director, Previous Owner

Randy grew up in the Pierceton/North Webster area just 20 miles northwest of Columbia City. After graduation from mortuary college he went to work as an intern for J.A. DeMoney & Son Funeral Home. After completing his internship with the firm he purchased the property and business from Bob and Ginnie DeMoney. In 1983, a fire destroyed the historic building that housed the funeral home and he purchased property where the funeral home presently stands. Randy’s dedication to service has made DeMoney-Grimes a National Funeral Director’s Association Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award Winner since 2001. In 2004 they received the Pursuit of Excellence Golden Eagle Award, in 2005 the Pursuit of Excellence Emeritus Award, and in 2006 the Pursuit of Excellence National Best of the Best Award. Randy has been the recipient of The Post & Mail’s Reader’s Choice Man of the Year Award in 2003 & 2005. He has also been named the best funeral director and funeral service provider in Whitley County by the Reader’s Choice Awards.

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Brett Gerber

Owner, Funeral Director and Certified Crematory Operator

Brett Gerber joined the DeMoney-Grimes team in March of 2013. With him he brings not only 18 years of experience as a licensed Funeral Director, but a real passion for what he does. His philosophy is to treat each individual he serves as if they were in his own family and it is reflected in each family he serves. He is a Wells County native and during his freshman year of college in Michigan, Brett assisted at a funeral home. That sparked enough of an interest in the profession for him to switch majors, universities, and to enroll inthe Funeral Director program at Vincennes University. At DeMoney-Grimes, Brett and his family took over ownership in January of 2020. He works with families to ensure the arrangements choosen for their loved one go as smoothly as possible.

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Kristopher Hardiman

Funeral Director, Monument Sales Manager

Kristopher “Kris” Hardiman was born and raised in Indiana and has been serving families for over 20 years. Kris is a fifth generation funeral director and a 1998 Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois, and was licensed with the state of Indiana in 2001.  He brings a great knowledge of and enjoys working in funeral service. Outside of the office Kris enjoys spending time with his family; wife Mary Jo, and children Aubrey, Isaac, Knox, Klayton, Kolton, and attending his children’s youth sporting games.  In addition he also likes to build, fix or repair just about anything he can get his hands on.

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Sara Gerber

Sara Gerber is a Wells County native and joined DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home in 2018. She brings over 15 years of experience caring for the elderly and their families while working in a nursing home/assisted living facility.  

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Kate Hoffman

Advance Planning Advisor

Kate Christian joins the DeMoney-Grimes team as the Advance Planning Advisor and General Manager of the Advance Planning Department. She brings with her 12 years of banking experience and 5 years of funeral industry experience. Prior to becoming and Advance Planning Advisor, she was the Director of Finance for an at-need funeral financing company. After experiencing the unexpected loss of her brother, she knew there was a better way to be prepared for funeral arrangements and expenses. She then decided to go from being in a reactive role to one that was very proactive. “Funeral preplanning is one of the most selfless and compassionate gifts you can provide for your loved ones on one of the very worst days in their lives.” says Kate. She is very passionate about preplanning and the benefits that it not only provides to those who preplan but what it provides for their loved ones as well.

Kate is a licensed agent with Forethought Life Insurance Company and a member of the Forethought network of funeral planning professionals. Kate has also earned the Global Atlantic Foreleaders Club Award in both 2016 and 2017 for providing excellence in Advance Planning services.  With these outstanding credentials, we are confident Kate will provide the high caliber service the community  has come to expect from DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home.

Please join us in welcoming Kate to the DeMoney-Grimes team. She will be available starting December 1st to provide funeral planning services to families in our community. If you would like to set an appointment to learn more about our Forethought funeral planning program and our many other services, please call Kate today at 260-244-5122.

Telephone: 1-260-244-5122

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Carla Blakley

A lifelong Whitley County resident and Huntington College graduate, Carla works as bookkeeper and personal assistant to Randy Grimes. She joined the DeMoney-Grimes team in 2002.

Ruby Hahn

After enjoying many years at home caring for her family Ruby joined the staff of DeMoney-Grimes in May 2011.  She spends her days in the design department creating videos and memorial folders for our families along with helping Kate in the advance planning department as the Administrative Assistant. Ruby brings with her much understanding and compassion after experiencing the death of her eleven year old son Logan in a tragic accident at home.  She shares her life with husband, Paul and sons Luke and Lawson.

Dan Judd

Dan Judd joined the staff of DeMoney-Grimes in January 2016. Dan does many different jobs here at DeMoney-Grimes, including maintenance of the building and vehicles, taking care of the Angel of Hope Memorial Garden, and helping with funeral services

Dan is owner of Ultimate Detailing in which he details your vehicle inside and out.

He also enjoys restoring older automobiles completely. Dan and his wife Cindy have been married 37 years. They enjoy antique shopping, working in their landscaping, and traveling which includes going on 10 cruises.

Sharon Brockhaus

Certified Funeral Celebrant

Sharon is a lifelong resident of Whitley County and a Funeral Celebrant.  In 2001 Sharon experienced the death of her son, Justin Hostetler, and so began her journey through her own grief. Sharon retired as a Grief Service Provider but helps create many funeral services as a Certified Funeral Celebrant through In-Sight Institute. She has conducted many funeral services for the families that DeMoney-Grimes has served over the years. Sharon also helps facilitate the local chapter of The Compassionate Friends support groups. Sharon shares her life with her husband, Tom, and they are the proud grandparents of Haley, Peter and Jacob.

Sarah Howard

Sarah began working for DeMoney-Grimes in 1993. She has worn many hats over the years including cleaning, bookkeeping, receptionist and as errand runner. Sarah had been in charge of the “Coats for Kids” drive each year in October for over 20 years. Sarah loves dogs, but will nurture any animal in need.

Ellie Lambert

Ellie grew up in Huntington County and married her high school sweetheart, Daryl Lambert. She has two sons; David and Darin, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. Traveling is Ellie’s passion. She has been blessed to see 50 states, 40 countries, and all 7 continents. Working as a greeter for DeMoney-Grimes has made her “Golden Years” truly golden.

Kim Willyard

Kim was born in Muncie, Indiana but spent most of her life in Whitley County. She graduated from Columbia City High School. The daughter of a United Methodist Minister, Kim learned the importance of caring and sharing with those in need. After several personal losses over a short period and with prayerful consideration, working part time at  DeMoney-Grimes has been a perfect fit. Kim will greet you with a friendly smile and do anything she can to help family and friends as they come through our door.

Jerri Swoverland

Suzanne Deubner

Suzanne Deubner is a life long resident of Whitley County, living in Columbia City for the last 26 years. After an approximate 40 years in the dental profession, she joined the staff of DeMoney-Grimes as a greeter. She and her husband, Steve, enjoy their family of two children and seven grandchildren. They also enjoy traveling, and family time at their lake cottage on the Barbee Chain in North Webster, Indiana.

With many years of experience working with the public, Suzanne enjoys greeting the many wonderful families with compassion and always putting their needs first.

Holly Oliver

Gladdie Barnett

Sydney Korte

Evelyn Stemen

Staff Organist

At DeMoney-Grimes Evelyn is our staff musician. We have a Allen Digital Organ and a Yamaha keyboard available for funeral services. We want to provide the best in musical instruments for the families we serve and for guest musicians who may play for services. Music is an important part of the funeral service and poor quality instruments cannot be overcome no matter how talented the musician. Evelyn is a lifelong resident of Whitley County and many adults will remember her as their piano teacher. Evelyn makes it a special point to play favorite selections provided by the family to help create a meaningful and personal service to the families she helps us serve.

Shane Caudill

Removal Staff

Shane has been working at DeMoney-Grimes since 2012. Shane is on call when a family has a death locally, and makes many of our out of town trips whenever a death has occurred out of state. Shane is responsible for all of the company vehicles, keeping them serviced and cleaned. He mows, does the yard work, and takes care of most maintenance issues at the funeral home. Shane has been a volunteer on the Columbia Township Fire Department for 19 years, was a reserve Police Officer for 8 years, and currently is a Dispatcher for the Columbia City Police Department.

Brian Hollenbaugh

Removal Staff