Our History
At Hartzler Funeral Home and King Memorial Home we are independently owned and operated. Both of our firms are committed to the compassionate care of your family in this most difficult time.
Mark and Deb Hartzler are the owners of King Memorial Home of Mentone and Hartzler Funeral Home of Akron. Mark graduated from the Indiana School of Mortuary Science of Indianapolis. After receiving his license, he and his wife owned and operated Wolf-Hartzler Funeral Home of Walton, Indiana. After four and a half years of service to that community he had the opportunity to come back home to Akron.
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Mark Hartzler Owner/Funeral Director
Mark and his family have dedicated themselves to serving the Akron community for many years. A proud 1973 graduate of Akron High School, Mark went on to complete his studies at the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.His career in funeral service began while attending college, working at what is now Gundrum Funeral Home in Logansport. After graduating, Mark purchased the Wolf Funeral Home in Walton, Indiana, and in September of 1985, he and his wife Deb acquired the funeral home in Akron and in 1993 the King Memorial Home in Mentone. In addition to his work in funeral service, Mark is a licensed insurance agent in the state of Indiana, assisting families with their pre-planning needs.Mark has been deeply involved in community life. He is a member and past president of the Akron Lions Club, the Akron-Mentone Kiwanis Club, and the Lincoln Masonic Lodge. Since moving to Akron in 1985, he and Deb have faithfully attended the Akron Church of God.Beyond his professional and civic commitments, Mark enjoys horses and his antique tractors. He spends many days tending to the family’s small farm, which has been passed down through generations.For more than 40 years, Mark has served both his profession and his community with dedication, compassion, and integrity.
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Deb Hartzler Owner
Deb plays an important role in the funeral home, managing the bookkeeping and many of its daily operations. She enjoyed a long career at the Akron branch of Lake City Bank, where she faithfully served friends and neighbors for many years.Since retiring from banking, Deb devotes much of her time to caring for her beloved granddaughters and grandson. She is also actively involved in the Akron Church of God.Originally from Logansport, Deb graduated from Logansport High School in 1976. Her roots in the area, combined with her commitment to family and faith, continue to shape the warmth and care she brings to both her personal life and her work at the funeral home.
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Blaine Hartzler Funeral Director
Blaine has been connected to the funeral home his entire life, carrying forward a tradition of service with dedication and care. He graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School in 2002, and in 2004 earned an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia from Westwood College of Technology, where he was honored as the “Outstanding Graduate of the Class.” After working for Zimmer Orthopedics in Warsaw for two years, Blaine pursued his calling in funeral service at Mid-America College of Funeral Service. He graduated in 2007 as Valedictorian of his class. In 2014, he also became a licensed insurance agent in Indiana, assisting families with their pre-planning needs.Blaine is deeply involved in community life. He is a member and past president of the Akron Lions Club, and has shared his love of sports as a former girls basketball coach at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School and as the current Valley JV Girls coach. Blaine and his wife Rebecca are active members of the Akron Church of God, where he serves on the Board. Together, they are raising their three children—daughters Britta and Katey, and son Camden—with the same values of faith and service.Bringing both professional expertise and creative vision, Blaine has enhanced the services offered at the funeral homes through his background in technology, graphics, and multimedia. His work has been instrumental in developing tribute videos, maintaining the memorial website, and providing webcasting of services, ensuring families have meaningful ways to honor and remember their loved ones.
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Rebecca Hartzler Funeral Director
Rebecca grew up in the small town of Owensville, Indiana. She is a graduate of Gibson Southern High School and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, where she earned a degree in Business Administration. She later pursued her calling in funeral service, graduating from Mid-America College of Funeral Service with a degree in Mortuary Science. Rebecca and Blaine were married on September 18, 2010.Faith and community are central to Rebecca’s life. She is an active member of the Akron Church of God and has served as past President of the Akron Las Donas Club. She plays a key role in organizing and planning Akron’s annual 4th of July celebration, helping bring the community together in tradition and fellowship.Professionally, Rebecca has served the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation, working at Mentone Elementary as Treasurer. Today, she continues her commitment to public service as the Akron Clerk/Treasurer, where she supports the town with dedication and care.
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Stacey McGriff
Stacey is a 1999 graduate of Tippecanoe Valley High School and went on to earn her degree in Office Administration from Fort Wayne Business College in 2000. She previously served as the receptionist at the Akron Vision Center and now works in the office at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.Faith and family are central to Stacey’s life. She and her two daughters, Emily and Taylor, and they attend the Akron Church of God.
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Mike Walters
Michael Walters has been a valued part of the funeral home team for many years, assisting with services at both locations. With more than two decades of experience helping families during funerals, Mike finds great fulfillment in serving the community with care and dedication. A retired real estate appraiser, he continues to devote his time and energy to meaningful work.Outside of the funeral home, Mike enjoys spending his days on projects around the house with his wife, Peggy. Together, they delight in keeping up with their six grandchildren, whose activities keep them busy and joyful. Whether it’s cheering at sporting events or joining in on four-wheeler rides, Mike embraces an active and family-centered life.
