The Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home has a deep-rooted history in Wells County tracing back to 1853. It was that year when Henry Thoma and Jacob Tribolet embarked in the joint venture of furniture and undertaking business under the firm name of Tribolet & Company.

In1861, Jacob Tribolet had left the area to fight in the Civil War, and Henry Thoma continued business under his own name. His son Herman, born in 1872, continued the business into the 20th century, as did Herman’s son, William Thoma, who was born in 1901.

Howard Rich joined the firm in 1956 and by 1961 he had become a business partner, and the funeral home’s name was then changed to Thoma/Rich. When William Thoma passed away in 1974, Howard Rich became the sole owner of the funeral home, but kept the company name of Thoma/Rich.

Later that year, Jefferson Hewitt became a member of the Thoma/Rich firm, and in 1986, Michael Chaney also became a member. Hewitt and Chaney both went on to purchase 20-percent of the funeral home in 1990, and the funeral home’s name was changed to Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney.

Jeffrey D. Lemler joined the firm in September 2000. In October of 2001 Chaney and Lemler purchased all of the remaining company stock from Howard Rich and Jeff Hewitt.

Today, Mike Chaney, Jeff Lemler and staff are serving families with modern innovations along with caring, personal service in the Thoma tradition.

Being a family-owned funeral home, Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home provides a caring and compassionate staff to help you plan a very personalized service, honoring your loved one's life.

We focus on the family's needs, and we value personal relationships. We serve others in the way that we would want to be served.

Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Indiana Funeral Directors Association, Independent Funeral Directors of Indiana, Wells County Chamber of Commerce, Creative Arts Council of Wells County, and the Wells County Historical Society.

2003 Business of the Year: The Wells County Chamber of Commerce selected Thoma/Rich, Hewitt, and Chaney Funeral Home as the Wells County Outstanding Business of the Year. During that year, the firm celebrated its 150th birthday; it earned the recognition of being Wells County’s oldest continuing business. The Wells County Chamber of Commerce recognized each generation of the firm as being very active in the Wells County community. The staff members continue in the Thoma tradition, and they actively participate in philanthropic organizations and community projects.

Service Award: Master/Sgt. Curt Juergens of the Indiana National Guard honored Thoma/Rich, Hewitt, and Chaney Funeral Home with the “Heroes of the American Home Front” award. This was in recognition of the service and support to the family of MSG Michael Hiester, who lost his life in Kabul, Afghanistan. As told to editor Jim Barbieri of The News-Banner (April 27, 2005), Master/Sgt. Juergens saw Bluffton as having a “special community spirit.”

Governor’s Century and a Half Award for 2005: Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman honored Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney Funeral Home for the “Governor’s Century and a Half Award for 2005.” The firm was nominated by Mayor Ted Ellis, who stated that the firm had 152 consecutive years of service in Bluffton. Mayor Ellis also recognized that the funeral home had an unprecedented number of Wells County Chamber of Commerce’s presidents, totaling four: William Thoma (1940), Howard Rich (1964), Jeff Hewitt (1994), and Mike Chaney (1999).

As reported in The News-Banner (November 12, 2005), “No other business has contributed such leadership since the chamber’s formation in 1914” and the firm has a “reputation in our community for financial generosity.” The members were recognized for their work in the downtown revitalization, plantings along the River Greenway, and the assistance in raising funds for the Arts, Commerce, and Visitor’s Centre. The firm’s members continue their community service and leadership through special projects to improve the lives of Wells County’s residents.