Our Staff

John Love

Funeral Director

In 1982, John and Mary Love purchased McCrate Funeral Home from Paul and Ann McCrate and established Love Funeral Homes.  He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1974. John is also a certified crematory operator. He was a business major at Capital University, Bexley, OH and a 1973 graduate of Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis IN.  John is a Viet Nam Veteran and a member of the Ottawa American Legion, VFW and Amvets. He is a member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and Sts Peter & Paul Church, Ottawa where he serves as a trustee on the School Endowment Committee and a former Putnam County Commissioner.

Telephone: 1-419-286-6586

Mary Love

Funeral Director

In 1982, Mary and John Love purchased McCrate Funeral Home from Paul and Ann McCrate and established Love Funeral Homes. She is a licensed Funeral Director since 1990 and a certified crematory operator.  Mary attended Lima Technical college and the Lima branch of The Ohio State University. Mary is also a licensed insurance agent and a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Ottawa. She is a member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and has been a board member of the Putnam County Chapter of the American Red Cross for over 25 years. She and her husband, John have two grown children, Heather and Robert and five grandchildren, Jeremy, Alexandria, Sean, Grayson and Weston.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586

Jeff Heitmeyer

Funeral Director

Jeff and his brother David founded Heitmeyer Funeral Homes in 1995 after purchasing Snyder Service.  Their Oakwood Funeral Home in Paulding County was built in 1996.  He attended The Ohio State University, Lima campus and in 1987 graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1988. Jeff is also a licensed insurance agent and a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Ottawa and the Glandorf Rod and Gun Club. He and his wife Dena live in Ottawa and have three daughters: Emily, Macy and Sydney.

Telephone: 1-419-523-5657

David Heitmeyer

Funeral Director

David and his brother Jeff founded Heitmeyer Funeral Homes in 1995 after purchasing Snyder Service.  Their Oakwood Funeral Home in Paulding County was built in 1996. 
He is a 1987 graduate of Columbus Grove High School, attended Ohio State University, Lima Campus and a 1991 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1992, a licensed insurance agent and a certified crematory operator. He is active in the Leipsic community, on his 2nd term as a Village Council member and a member of Leipsic Eagles and Leipsic Rod and Gun. He is a member of St. Mary’s Church, Leipsic, Ottawa Masonic Lodge and Columbus Grove Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Rita have four children, Bryce, Brooke, Hayley and Peyton.

Telephone: 1-419-943-2040

Rita Heitmeyer

Rita has worked with her husband David as a member of the funeral home staff since 1995. She is a 1988 graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School, attended Ohio State University Lima Campus and graduated with honors in 1993 from Northwestern College, Lima. They live in Leipsic with their four children: Bryce, Brooke, Hayley and Peyton.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586

Heather Love Reynolds

Funeral Director

Heather joined her parents at Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home full-time in 2002. She is a licensed embalmer and funeral director, and a certified crematory operator. Heather is a 1995 graduate of Ottawa-Glandorf High School; 1999 graduate of Ohio University and 2002 graduate of Mid-America College of Mortuary Science. She is a member of the Leipsic United Methodist Church and Leipsic Chamber of Commerce. She is a dance instructor at The Dance Center in Ottawa. Heather and her husband, Nate live in Leipsic with their three children Jeremy, Alexandria and Sean.

Telephone: 1-419-943-2040

Shanda Martz

Funeral Director

Shanda joined Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home in September 2008. She is a licensed embalmer and funeral director; a 1990 graduate of Kalida High School and a 1993 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Ottoville, the Hospitality New Parents organization and 4-H advisor for Ottoville Up-to-Date. She and her husband, Kirt live in Ottoville with their daughter, Carli.

Telephone: 1-419-596-3803

Brett Fry

Funeral Director

Brett joined Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home in October of 2011. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and a 2005 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.  He graduated from Wayne Trace High School and earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Tech.  Brett and his wife, Dunel reside in Ottawa and have two children, Chance and Sienna. He is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and  National Funeral Directors Association.  His family attends St. John Church, Glandorf.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586

Gwenn Spencer

Administrative Assistant

Gwenn joined the staff of Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home in 2019.  She is a 1993 graduate of Ottoville High School and a licensed cosmetologist.  She is a member of St. Barabara Catholic Church, Cloverdale where she is a Eucharistic Minister and Mass server.  Gwenn lives in Cloverdale with her son Nathan.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586

Gabe Roberts

Apprentice

Gabe joined Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Homes as a full-time staff member in 2021, but had been a part time member since 2017. He is a 2017 graduate of Leipsic High School, attended The Ohio State University, Lima campuses and then continued on at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he obtained his Bachelor’s of Mortuary Science degree in 2021. Gabe is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, Ottawa Knights of Columbus and Leipsic Eagles. He is a third-generation funeral director following in his great-grandfathers’ Walter and August Fischer’s footsteps.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586

Susan Bryan

Administrative Assistant

Susan Bryan joined Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Homes in November of 2020. She is a 1997 graduate of Leipsic High School and 2001 graduate of Bowling Green State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Leipsic. Susan and her husband, Matt, reside in Leipsic and have four children: Grant, Gavin, Grace and Grady.

Telephone: 1-419-523-6586