About Us

Auxter Family For more than 100 years our funeral homes have been family owned and operated. This extensive experience helps us remember the way service should be – giving the extra effort and caring beyond the expected. That is what we try to achieve here every day. Our high standards of service have always been our priority. We serve you as we wish to be served.

Being an independent, family owned and operated funeral home allows us to be flexible and meet individual needs. Publicly owned funeral homes exist to benefit their stockholders. The owners are not present in the communities the funeral home is serving. Our main concern as a family owned funeral home is serving each family with compassion in a time when it is most needed. We believe small, caring firms serve our communities best – that's why we remain family owned and operated in both Bellevue and Clyde.

We, the owners, are conscious of your needs and strive to meet them each day. We think that makes a great difference in the care and services we offer.

History

The Mitchell-Auxter Funeral Home began as J.R. Beard Funeral Home, a store-front operation on West Buckeye Street under the direction of Mr. Jesse Beard. Mr. B.V. Mitchell, a basketball stand-out from Bellevue, got his embalmer’s and funeral director’s license from the Columbus Embalming School in Columbus, Ohio after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University. He then came to Clyde and began working at the J.R. Beard Funeral Home. After Mr. Beard’s death in 1931, Mr. Mitchell purchased the funeral home and it was renamed, Mitchell Funeral Home. After WWII, Walter Auxter served his apprenticeship with Mr. Mitchell and then went to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Walter returned to Clyde and worked with Mr. Mitchell after he graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. In 1961 Walter bought the funeral home from Mitchell and it became Mitchell-Auxter Funeral Home. Walter’s son, Dean, graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, served his apprenticeship in Warren, Ohio, and returned to Clyde to work with his father in 1977. Dean and Melinda (Huston) were married in 1980 and expanded the business to include monuments, working with Maumee Valley Rock of Ages. Then, in 1984, Melinda obtained her funeral director’s license. Dean and Melinda purchased the funeral home from Walter in 1989. In 1999, after seeing the need for a family owned and operated funeral home in Bellevue, the Auxter-Groff Funeral Home was opened. In 2000, the Auxters ended their partnership with the Groffs on good terms, and the funeral home is now the Auxter Funeral Home. Both funeral homes are still proudly family owned and operated.

Staff

	Walter Auxter: walterauxter@auxterfuneralhomes.com Walter graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1938 and was working for the Ross Candy Company. After a few years he obtained a position at the Erie Proving Grounds, test proving guns. He registered with the State Board in 1941, but then was drafted into the Army. He served in the Army until 1945 and then returned to his job at the Proving Grounds. He served his apprenticeship in 1946-1948 with Mr. Mitchell and then went to Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and graduated in 1950. After graduation he returned to Clyde and worked at the Mitchell Funeral Home. He purchased the funeral home in 1961 and sold it to his son and daughter-in-law in 1989. Walter still works visitations and funerals and enjoys helping-out around the funeral home. He and his wife, Micky, live in Clyde and enjoy spending time with their family. They have three children and five grandchildren. Walter is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clyde, National Funeral Director’s Assoc., Ohio Funeral Directors’ Assoc., Ohio Embalmers’ Assoc., American Legion Post 122 (past commander & life member), Clyde VFW #3343 (life member), DAV (life member), 40-8 1057 Sandusky Co., Monticello Blue Lodge 244 F&AM, RAM Ch. 90, Scottish Rite Consistory of Toledo, Zenobia Shrine of Toledo, Legion of Honor of Toledo, Minute Men Firing Squad, retired member of the Board of Directors of the Clyde Savings Bank and a former member and past president of the Clyde Kiwanis Club (52 years).
	Dean Auxter: deanauxter@auxterfuneralhomes.com Dean graduated from Clyde High School in 1973, attended Findlay College until 1975, and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1976. He served his apprenticeship with McFarland Funeral Home in Warren, Ohio and then returned to Clyde and worked with his father. In 1980 he married Melinda (Huston). They have two daughters: Hannah, a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, now serving her apprenticeship at the Auxter Funeral Homes in Bellevue and Clyde; and Meredith, a student at Capital University in Columbus. He is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clyde, Ohio Funeral Directors’ Assoc., Ohio Embalmers’ Assoc., National Funeral Directors’ Assoc., American Society of Embalmers, Clyde Eagles, Clyde Moose, Clyde VFW, Clyde Business & Professional Assoc. (past president), Clyde Exchange Club (past president), Monticello Blue Lodge Clyde Chapter, Bellevue Council, Fremont Commandery, Zenobia Shrine, Sandusky Co. Shrine Club (past president), Bellevue Lions, Bellevue Elks, Club Amer-Ital, Board of Trustees at St. Francis Health Care Centre in Green Springs (vice-president), Clyde Fire Department since 1978, serving as the department’s treasurer and pump operator, Sandusky Co. Firemen’s Assoc., Northwest Ohio Volunteer Firemen’s Assoc., Ohio State Firefighter's Association, and Four County Conservation.
	Melinda Auxter: melindaauxter@auxterfuneralhomes.com Melinda graduated from Margaretta High School in 1974, The Ohio State University in 1978 with a degree in Elementary Education, and then began teaching 6th grade at Western Reserve Schools in Wakeman, Ohio. In 1980 she married Dean Auxter. From 1980-1982 she was a substitute teacher in the Clyde School District. She then served her apprenticeship with Dean from 1982-1984 and obtained her funeral director’s license. She has two daughters: Hannah, a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, now serving her apprenticeship at the Auxter Funeral Homes in Bellevue and Clyde; and Meredith, a student at Capital University in Columbus. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clyde, Ohio Funeral Directors’ Assoc., Clyde Business & Professional Assoc., Clyde Career Women, Bellevue Tourist Club, Bellevue Eagles Aux., Club Amer-Ital, Clyde VFW Ladies Aux., Clyde Firemen Ladies Aux., and the Women of the Moose.
	Hannah Auxter: hannahauxter@auxterfuneralhomes.com Hannah graduated from Clyde High School in 2002 and Wittenberg University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in management. At Wittenberg she participated in the Wittenberg Choir for four years and served as the choir's tour manager. She was also involved in the campus ministries program and worked in the management department office. Hannah graduated valedictorian from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2007. She received the John Rebol Award for attaining the highest grade-point average in her class. She was also chosen by her classmates to receive the Memorial Award which is presented to the student who, through qualities of leadership, professional conduct, and good citizenship, best typifies the ideals of the student body. Hannah has returned home and is currently serving her apprenticeship at the Auxter Funeral Homes in Bellevue and Clyde.
	James Anderson: Jim graduated from Clyde High School in 1963. He attended the University of Toledo and then Lindsay-Wilson College in Kentucky. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and served his apprenticeship at Gerner-Wolfe Funeral Home in Port Clinton and then worked for the R.L. Ullmer Funeral Home in Dayton. In 1972 he returned home and began working for the Mitchell-Auxter Funeral Home and Harris Funeral Home. He has been employed by the Sandusky Co. EMS since 1977. Jim is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge Clyde Chapter, Bellevue Council, and Fremont Commandery. He is married to Sandy (Babione). They have four children and two grandchildren.
	Rebecca Andrews: Becky (Miller) graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1974. She worked at the Clyde Savings Bank from 1981-1995. Becky is a Eucharist minister at St. Mary's Catholic Church. She also volunteers in the cafeteria at St. Mary's Catholic School. In 1988 she married James “Mike” Andrews. Mike is the Fire Chief in Clyde. They have four children and seven grandchildren. Becky is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clyde and the Clyde Firemen’s Ladies Aux.
	William E. Clark: Mr. Clark graduated from Bellaire High School and served in the Navy from 1946-1949. He married Margaret (Demas) in 1950 and began college at Ohio University (OU). In 1951 he was recalled to serve the Navy in Korea. He returned to OU and graduated in 1954. He received his master’s degree in 1955 and began teaching in Barnesville. In 1959 he came to Bellevue and served as the Assistant Principal at the High School. In 1963 he became the Principal at Bellevue Junior High and retired in 1985. Mr. Clark lives in Bellevue with his wife. They have one daughter, Kim, who lives in Colorado. Mr. Clark is a member of Bellevue Kiwanis Club and Bellevue First United Methodist Church.
	John Avers: johnavers@auxterfuneralhomes.com John graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1965 and Luther College in Iowa in 1969. Formerly, John worked for Swartzlander Radio and the Sandusky County Auditor’s Office. He is currently employed by Rexam in Fremont. He is married to Diane (Auxter) and they have two children. John is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Fremont, VFW (life member), Masonic Blue Lodge Clyde Chapter, and the Zenobia Shrine.
	Amy Rospert: amyrospert@auxterfuneralhomes.com Amy graduated in 1986 from Cuyahoga Falls High School. She married her husband Dennis in 1989. Dennis works as Production Manager for Zimmerman Remodeling and Construction and is also a Sergeant with the Bellevue Fire Department working part time. Amy has stayed home for the last twelve years to raise her boys. Amy and Dennis live in Bellevue with their three sons, Lucas, Tyler, and Connor. She actively participates in her sons' activities. They are members of Immaculate Conception Church.