We are proud of our highly qualified staff who provide the service that our communities need and expect. All of our Funeral Directors are licensed and experienced in all aspects of funeral and cremation services.
Leon J. Groff, second generation funeral director and embalmer, is President and CEO of Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory in Sandusky, Huron and Milan, and Meadow Green Memorial Park Cemetery in Huron. He is a lifelong resident of Sandusky, and is an active funeral director and embalmer. Leon sets the high standard for excellence in funeral service. He graduated from the St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
He began working at Groff Funeral Home in 1972, and developed Meadow Green Memorial Park Cemetery in 1988. He is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Plum Brook Country Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, National Funeral Directors Association, Current member and past president of Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Firelands Funeral Directors Association, Knights of Columbus, Sandusky Elks and Exchange Club. Leon resides in Sandusky with his wife, Ann, and their son, Ashton. They also have two daughters, Kelly and Kara.
Ann Groff, licensed funeral director, operates The Remembrance Center & Gift Gallery, which is a gift store that offers unique gifts and tributes for any occasion. Ann graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School and the University of Dayton. She obtained her funeral directors license in 1989.
Ann is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Plum Brook Country Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and the Firelands Funeral Directors Association. Ann resides in Sandusky with her husband, Leon, and their son, Ashton. They also have two daughters, Kelly and Kara.
Kara Groff Mesenburg, third generation funeral director, is the Executive Director at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, Meadow Green Memorial Park and Groff Pet Loss Services. She is a 2003 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Sandusky. Kara received a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Xavier University in 2006 and a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in management from John Carroll University in 2011. She received her Funeral Director's license in 2013.
She is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Sandusky Rotary Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Plum Brook Country Club, North Coast Young Professionals, Sandusky State Theatre Board of Directors, Ohio Cemetery Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and Pet Loss Professional Alliance. Kara resides in Sandusky with her husband, Josh, their children, Macie and Drew, and their miniature Australian Shepherd, Major.
Kurt M. Kresser, funeral director and embalmer, serves as the Manger of the Groff Funeral Home in Sandusky. Kurt is a highly valued member of the Groff team. He began working for Groff Funeral Homes in May of 1990. Kurt coordinates the day to day operations at our Sandusky location, and is highly skilled in the art of embalming and cosmetology. Kurt graduated in 1985 from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Sandusky. He received his Bachelor of Mortuary Science Degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1994.
He is a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Sandusky, the Sandusky Lions Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Sandusky Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and The Firelands Funeral Directors Association. Kurt resides in Sandusky with his wife, Kelly, and step-son, Jordan.
Kyle P. Brubaker is a licensed funeral director, licensed insurance agent, and Family Services Advisor for Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory. He operates the advanced funeral planning department, assists families in after-care follow up, and is an excellent resource for any other services requested by our families. Kyle is a 2011 graduate of Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio, with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting. Shortly after graduation, he began his professional career at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory. In 2015, Kyle was awarded the nationally recognized Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) designation by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). The CPC certification program is considered the standard of excellence in funeral service for individuals who help families plan funerals in advance. He received his funeral director's license in 2016.
He is a member of the Sandusky Yacht Club, American Legion Post #83, Sandusky Elks Lodge #285 and Holy Angels Catholic Church. He resides in Sandusky with his wife, Jen, their daughters, Baylie and Zoey, and their German shepherd, Rocky.
Elizabeth "Annie" Birli is the office manager and began working for Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory in August 2013. Annie is often the first person families speak to, and her pleasant phone greeting and warm personality assures that the staff at Groff is here to help. Annie is a 2002 graduate of St. Mary's Central Catholic High School and received her bachelors degree of Health and Human Services in Criminal Justice from BGSU in 2007. She resides in Sandusky, and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews. You can also see Annie at Marconi's Italian Restaurant in Huron where she is a server on weekends.
Leon J. Groff
President & Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Leon J. Groff, second generation funeral director and embalmer, is President and CEO of Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory in Sandusky, Huron and Milan, and Meadow Green Memorial Park Cemetery in Huron. He is a lifelong resident of Sandusky, and is an active funeral director and embalmer. Leon sets the high standard for excellence in funeral service. He graduated from the St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
He began working at Groff Funeral Home in 1972, and developed Meadow Green Memorial Park Cemetery in 1988. He is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Plum Brook Country Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, National Funeral Directors Association, Current member and past president of Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Firelands Funeral Directors Association, Knights of Columbus, Sandusky Elks and Exchange Club. Leon resides in Sandusky with his wife, Ann, and their son, Ashton. They also have two daughters, Kelly and Kara.
Ann S. Groff
Licensed Funeral Director
Ann Groff, licensed funeral director, operates The Remembrance Center & Gift Gallery, which is a gift store that offers unique gifts and tributes for any occasion. Ann graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School and the University of Dayton. She obtained her funeral directors license in 1989.
Ann is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Plum Brook Country Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and the Firelands Funeral Directors Association. Ann resides in Sandusky with her husband, Leon, and their son, Ashton. They also have two daughters, Kelly and Kara.
Kara Groff Mesenburg
Executive Director & Licensed Funeral Director
Kara Groff Mesenburg, third generation funeral director, is the Executive Director at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, Meadow Green Memorial Park and Groff Pet Loss Services. She is a 2003 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Sandusky. Kara received a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Xavier University in 2006 and a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in management from John Carroll University in 2011. She received her Funeral Director's license in 2013.
She is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Sandusky Rotary Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Plum Brook Country Club, North Coast Young Professionals, Sandusky State Theatre Board of Directors, Ohio Cemetery Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and Pet Loss Professional Alliance. Kara resides in Sandusky with her husband, Josh, their children, Macie and Drew, and their miniature Australian Shepherd, Major.
Kurt M. Kresser
Manager & Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Kurt M. Kresser, funeral director and embalmer, serves as the Manger of the Groff Funeral Home in Sandusky. Kurt is a highly valued member of the Groff team. He began working for Groff Funeral Homes in May of 1990. Kurt coordinates the day to day operations at our Sandusky location, and is highly skilled in the art of embalming and cosmetology. Kurt graduated in 1985 from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Sandusky. He received his Bachelor of Mortuary Science Degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1994.
He is a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Sandusky, the Sandusky Lions Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Sandusky Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and The Firelands Funeral Directors Association. Kurt resides in Sandusky with his wife, Kelly, and step-son, Jordan.
Kyle P. Brubaker
Preplanning Consultant & Licensed Funeral Director
Kyle P. Brubaker is a licensed funeral director, licensed insurance agent, and Family Services Advisor for Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory. He operates the advanced funeral planning department, assists families in after-care follow up, and is an excellent resource for any other services requested by our families. Kyle is a 2011 graduate of Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio, with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting. Shortly after graduation, he began his professional career at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory. In 2015, Kyle was awarded the nationally recognized Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) designation by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). The CPC certification program is considered the standard of excellence in funeral service for individuals who help families plan funerals in advance. He received his funeral director's license in 2016.
He is a member of the Sandusky Yacht Club, American Legion Post #83, Sandusky Elks Lodge #285 and Holy Angels Catholic Church. He resides in Sandusky with his wife, Jen, their daughters, Baylie and Zoey, and their German shepherd, Rocky.
E. Annie Birli
Office Manager
Elizabeth "Annie" Birli is the office manager and began working for Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory in August 2013. Annie is often the first person families speak to, and her pleasant phone greeting and warm personality assures that the staff at Groff is here to help. Annie is a 2002 graduate of St. Mary's Central Catholic High School and received her bachelors degree of Health and Human Services in Criminal Justice from BGSU in 2007. She resides in Sandusky, and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews. You can also see Annie at Marconi's Italian Restaurant in Huron where she is a server on weekends.