News from Golden Rule Funeral Homes Member News Awards & recognition Congratulations to Whitley’s Funeral Home in Kannapolis, North Carolina, for being voted Best Funeral Home by the Independent Tribune. They have won this honor multiple times over the years. The Town of Pulaski, Virginia, issued a Resolution recognizing Stevens Funeral Home for their years of service to the community. The funeral home was founded in 1890 and has been family-owned and -operated for four generations. Welcome, Baby Hemmerle! Congratulations to OGR member Joey Hemmerle and his wife Halie on the birth of their daughter, Rowan Drew. Reid is now a big brother, and grandparents Tom & Natalie are overjoyed to welcome grandchild #5. Flinn Funeral Home passes to 2nd generation Best wishes on their retirement to Gordon and Diane Flinn from Flinn Funeral Services in Rocky Mountain Top, Alberta. They have passed along the leadership of the funeral home to the next generation, daughters Laurie Wade and Nancy Kirstein, and son John Flinn. OGR wishes them much success in the years ahead as they continue the legacy of caring started by their parents. Operation: Toy Soldier This proprietary program run by Veterans Funeral Care, one of OGR's Endorsed Suppliers, collects toys and distributes them to area veterans and active-duty military in participating funeral homes' areas. This year, seven OGR members took part: • Cooper Funeral Home - Tecumseh, OK • Heartland Cremation & Burial Society - Raytown, MO • Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home - Franklin, PA • Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home - Hamburg, NY • Martin Funeral Home, Cremation & Tribute Services - Mt. Morris, MI • Michigan Cremation - Grand Rapids, MI • Veterans Funeral Care - Clearwater, FL Thorson-Popp marks 50 Reid Hemmerle, son and grandson of OGR members Joey & Tom Hemmerle, respectively, holds his new baby sister, Rowan Drew. (photo provided) 36 www.ogr.org | Winter 2022 years One of OGR's newest members, Thorson-Popp just joined in August when it changed ownership. New owner Dr. Nathan Popp, LFD, plans on scheduling quarterly community events to celebrate the funeral home's 50 years of service to its community. Member News
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