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Our Support Team Members

Tammy L. Merkle
President of Merkle Enterprises, Inc. 

Manager of Covenant Cremation

Certified Crematory operator

Tammy has lived in Monroe for most of her life, and is a 1989 graduate of Monroe High School. She earned her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Owens Community College in 1998. Following her graduation from hygiene school, Tammy, was employed by Kuras Dental Health Associates of Monroe for more than twenty years.   She began a new page in the Spring of 2019 when she took employment with Nuture Family Dental in Brighton and then a part-time position with Frenchtown Smiles in Monroe in August of 2019.  Tammy formerly was a certified American Heart CPR instructor.  

Tammy joined Merkle Funeral Service as the Chief Operating Officer in the Summer of 2019.  She helped the company to navigate through the struggles of COVID during 2020.   

Tammy has held the position of President of Merkle Enterprises, Inc. since the company's inception in 2006.   In this capacity she oversees Merkle Custom Memorials, a custom permanent memorial and monument company and Floral Expressions, the on-site floral shop.  In 2022, Tammy purchased a laser engraver and has been creating unique personalized items ever since.

Tammy is now soley committed to the operation of Merkle Enterprises, Inc. and has expanded the companies offerings to include a new state of the art crematory, Covenant Cremation, located on the site of Merkle Funeral Service, Erie.   She obtained her Certified Crematory Operator License on February 15, 2021.   Tammy state, "I am excited to be able to provide premier cremation services to the Monroe Community and beyond."   By partnering with Merkle Funeral Service, families can be comforted in the fact that their loved one never leaves Merkle's care.   Covenant Cremation provides service to all four of the Merkle Funeral Service locations. She continues to hold a limited life insurance license and a cosmetology license through the State of Michigan.   

Tammy is a devoted mother to her three children:  Olivia, Merin, and Ethan and to her three cock-a-poo, fur babies:  Lola a certified therapy dog, Layla, and a puppy, Lucy.   She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.   In her free time she loves to spend time with her family and enjoys relaxing in Northern Michigan.

Laurie A. Staelgraeve

Chief Operating Officer

Human Resources Director

Laurie joined Merkle Funeral Service in August of 2018 as an Administrative Assistant.   In December of 2019 she was promoted to Office Administrator, with a second promotion in 2023 to the role of Chief Operating Officer and Human Resources Director.

Laurie has been a resident of Monroe most of her life.   After graduating from Jefferson High School, she met her husband, Todd, and together they have raised two children, Amanda and Jacob, who have since blessed them with three grandsons, Jace Phillip, Wyatt Michael, and Cain Jacob.

Laurie worked for seventeen years in the grocery business, employed by Danny's Fine Foods here in Monroe.  While working for the small-town business, she went back to school at Monroe County Community College, and then accepted a position with Kuras Dental Heath Associates.  She worked for Dr. Jeffrey Young until the business was sold in July of 2018.   Although her intention was to continue working in the dental field, she soon found a draw to the funeral ministry, having a new appreciation for helping others through grief.   She is proud to be a part of the Merkle Funeral Service Team.

In her free time, Laurie, enjoys spending time with family and friends.   She loves being outside working in her yard and traveling back and forth to their family cabin near Gladwin. 

Jane Woodbury
Lead Floral Designer

Jane Woodbury joined the team at Merkle’s in June of 2013 as the lead Floral Designer. She has been a part of the Monroe community for a lifetime. She graduated from Monroe High school in the spring of 1980. Jane is married to retired Monroe City Firefighter and Firefighter instructor Ralph Woodbury Jr. Together they have three children, Rebecca, William and Hannah (Schmitz), and Alexandra. They have five “grand” dogs: Rosco, Tucker, Charlie, Lily, and Mojo; and a cat Lucy.

Jane has more than 40 years of experience within the Floral Industry starting as Christmas help at the North Monroe Greenhouse in 1977. She worked for Old Town Floral Designs before purchasing the business in March of 2002. In 2007 She moved the business inside Merkle Funeral Service, changing the name to Floral Expressions.

Jane is a current member of the Michigan State Floral Association and a former member, president, vice president of Business Network International, Chapter 1 Monroe, Michigan, and the current secretary for Military families of Monroe County. She is a former member and grief counselor with the Toledo Hospital CARE Group for bereaved parents. In her free time she enjoys gardening, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.

Olivia P. Merkle

Outreach Coordinator

Olivia was promoted to Outreach Coordinator in 2023. Olivia is a 2021 graduate of Monroe High School where she lettered in Basketball and Soccer. She had previously attended Erie Mason High School participating in Junior Varsity Basketball and played Varsity Golf and Volleyball. Olivia obtained her Associate’s Degree in Prepsychology from Monroe County Community College in April of 2023 making the Deans List and graduating with honors, Magna Cum Laude. As the Outreach Coordinator she oversees the after funeral care program for Merkle.

The oldest of three children born to Tammy and Brian Merkle, Olivia has a sister Merin and brother Ethan. She is an old soul, loving all types of music especially the Beatles and is an avid reader. Olivia is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she attended grade school and was the class Salutatorian in 2017. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing recreation soccer. 

In Memoriam

Gabriel McQuaide

Advanced Planning Specialist

Gabriel Michael McQuaide "Gabe" joined the Merkle Funeral Service team in August of 2023 in the Advanced Planning Department.  He soon obtained his State of Michigan Limited Life Insurance License, also receiving on the job training, and specialized training through our pre-need partner, PRECOA.  He has now become our Advanced Planning Specialist.  Gabe finds great satisfaction in his new role and is excited to work with families documenting their funeral arrangement wishes.   

Gabe is a multi-talented individual with a diverse background in various industries and a strong commitment to community service. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1998, and then pursued his education at Kent State University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree.

Gabe enjoyed careers at Lehigh Hanson, in the building materials industry, Konecranes in the industrial crane business, and at Hirzel Canning in the agriculture and food manufacturing industries. At one time Gabe managed a seven-state territory with distributors located out west that allowed him to see most of the United States.  Gabe is currently a member of Leadership Monroe through the Monroe County Business Alliance.

On June 16, 2018, in the Wildwood Preserve Nature Park of Sylvania, Ohio, he married his best friend, the former Sarah Rowley, and together they are raising a blended family of five children: Conner, Caeden, Brenden, Macie and Gage.  An avid outdoorsman, Gabe enjoys spending time with his family and four dogs: three Golden Retrievers and one German Shepherd, often taking nature hikes. He enjoys activities such as fishing and kayaking in the Au Sauble, Manitee, Pine, Rifle, and Taquamenon Rivers. He and his family often pitch a tent to sleep under the stars when camping in the Huron National Forests. His love for the outdoors also extends to hunting in Northern Michigan and South Central Ohio.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Gabe has dedicated significant time to teaching math and science to middle and high school students, as well as coaching high school football for two decades. His passion for youth development extends to his involvement in volunteering for organizations such as the Special Olympics and the Boy Scouts of America.

Overall, Gabe's dedication to his work, his community, and his family showcases his diverse skill set and strong passion for making a positive impact in various aspects of his life, which makes him a great asset to our firm.

​In Memoriam

Lola
Certified Therapy Dog

Lola Merkle a cherished member of the Merkle Family and valuable member of the Merkle Funeral Service Team passed away on Friday; October 1, 2021.   She had been in declining health for some time and under the compassionate care of Suburban Animal Clinic for many years.      

Lola a cock-a-poo was born in Monroe, Michigan on June 9, 2008.   It was love at first sight, and from the moment she came home with the Merkle Family it was realized that she was quite special.   Lola, would soon become the smallest member of the Merkle Funeral Service Team, but her responsibilities would be some of the largest.

Lola completed Basic Obedience Training at Dundee K9 on October 23, 2009.   Her passion and love for people was evident and she displayed a keen instinct and ability to know when a person is grieving and needs to be comforted.   Sometimes just her close presence brought comfort to those who were grieving, but she also knew when she needed to be much closer to help, and usually found her way into that person's lap or next to them on a couch or chair.   Because of this natural gift, Lola went on to complete the Canine Good Manners Class on November 15, 2012, and then completed Therapy Dogs International testing and obtained certification.

For many years she was active in the community with her handler, Renee Mullendore, visiting local nursing homes, Mercy Memorial Hospital, and even Monroe County third grade classrooms to distribute dictionaries as a Rotary International project.   Lola was often requested by families to visit their gatherings to lend comfort to guests.   Her disposition was smooth, very tolerant, and loving.     She often joined the Ladies at their luncheons and the men having coffee.   Lola was featured in the Monroe News and numerous other publications across the country by the Associated Press for the work she was doing.  

When asked if she wanted to go to “work”, Lola, patiently went and stood by the door, waiting for her opportunity to shine.   She loved to go on car rides and visit Northern Michigan where she enjoyed boat rides.  

Although, The Merkle home will never be the same the joy and love she shared will forever be cherished.    She is survived by the people she loved the most; her siblings, the Merkle children:  Olivia, Merin, and Ethan; her four-legged sisters:  Layla and Lucy and her human parents:  Tammy and Brian S. Merkle.

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