OGR Annual Professional Service Awards
Golden Light Award | Community Service Award | Exemplary Service Award
OGR members stand out for their unwavering commitment to their profession, families, and communities. The OGR Professional Service Awards represent some of the most prestigious honors in the field, celebrating exceptional contributions and achievements across various categories.
A distinguished panel of industry experts carefully evaluates nominations, selecting recipients who exemplify expertise, outstanding client service, and meaningful impact in their field. These esteemed awards are presented annually at PROGRESS, OGR’s signature event, during the Golden Circle Celebration Awards Dinner.
Nominations are now closed, and will reopen for the 2026 cycle in November. Check back here for more updates!
Golden Light Award
In 2002, OGR instituted its most prestigious award, the Golden Light Award, to salute professional excellence exemplified by individual members who have inspired others by their commitment to service. OGR members nominate a fellow member who have distinguished him or herself in the funeral profession through OGR involvement, community service or volunteer activities that demonstrate "service measured not by gold, but by the Golden Rule."
2025 Golden Light Award Recipient
 Kevin Opsahl
Kevin Opsahl has dedicated nine years of board and committee leadership at OGR including a term as president from 2010-2011. He continues his involvement by hosting the annual Pheasant Hunt Invitational tradition, which continues 24 years after he started it in 2001.
He further contributes to the funeral profession through his mentorship of students and apprentices from college and high school internship programs. In his community, Kevin has served on numerous boards and committees through his church, coached several youth sports programs, volunteered for clean up during floods in Yankton as well as put together a "stronger together" parking lot party for first responders, and traveled to Ukraine to volunteer to help refugees.
After 43 years of funeral service, Kevin continues to show that families always come first. His caring nature and empathetic professionalism set him apart from others. From serving families of fallen soldiers, to being the only funeral home in his area to provide services to stillborn infants and families, to providing aftercare for each and every family, and sponsoring a healthy healing support group, Kevin embodies the values of OGR and the Golden Light Award.
Previous Golden Light Award Recipients
2024 - Thomas Hemmerle, Barnett-Strother Funeral Home, Madisonville, KY
2023 - Rafael "Raffy" Jose, Arlington Memorial Chapels, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
2022 - Charles Castiglia, MS, CFSP, Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Hamburg, NY
2021 - Geraldine "Geri" Oliverie, Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester Township, NJ
2020 - Peter "Skip" Urban, Urban Funeral Home, Ambler, PA
2019 - Roger Beyers, Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Leesburg, FL
2018 - Kayla Carter, Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, Elsberry, MO.
2017 - George Darte, George Darte Funeral Chapel, St. Catharine's, ON
2016 - John Kreidler, Kreidler Funeral Home, McAllen, TX
2015 - John Dallas Slack, CFSP, Slack Funeral Home, Ellicott City, MD
2014 - Randall Earl, Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, Decatur, Ill
2013 - Jeffrey Wages, Wages & Sons-Gwinnett Chapel, Lawrenceville, GA
2012 - Guy Linnemann, Linnemann Funeral Homes, Erlanger, KY
2011 - Robin Williams, R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home & Crematory, St. Petersburg, FL
2010 - William Brock, Vander Plaat Funeral Home, Wyckoff, NJ
2009 - Charles Rader, LeRoy Rader Funeral Home, Longview, TX
2008 - Harold Lake, Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home, Arkansas City, KS
2007 - Michael Butler, Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Hastings, NE
2006 - Thomas Lynch, Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, Milford, MI
2005 - Billy Wages, Wages & Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain, GA
2004 - Bonnie Helweg-Campbell, Helweg Funeral Service, Jenkintown, PA
2003 - Glenn Taylor, Glenn Funeral Home & Crematory, Owensboro, KY
 Golden Rule Community Service Award
Launched in 2008, the Golden Rule Community Service Award singles out a member firm for outstanding service as demonstrated by activities benefiting local organizations and/or the community they serve.
2025 Community Service Award Recipient
Arlington Memorial Chapels & Crematory, Quezon City, Manila Philippines
This year, Arlington Memorial Chapels engaged families using a new program called "Timeless Tastes," a cookbook of recipes collected from client families to act as a tribute to the enduring connection that we maintain with our loved ones through the food that we share. Additionally, Arlington offers a range of specialized aftercare and grief support services to families and hosts a variety of events throughout the year designed to bring the community together. OGR is proud to recognize Arlington Memorial Chapels for their long history of community service and their commitment to OGR values.
Previous Golden Rule Community Service Award Recipients
2024 - Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Franklin, PA
2023 - Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester, NJ
2022 - Jakubs-Waite Funeral Home, Eastlake, OH
2021 - Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
2020 - Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
2019 - Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester, NJ
2018 - Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin, PA
2017 - Toland-Herzig Funeral Homes & Crematory, Dover, OH
2016 - Martin Funeral, Cremation, & Tribute Services, Mt. Morris, MI
2015 - Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester Township, NJ
2014 - Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
2013 - Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin, PA
2012 - Joseph Pray, Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI
2011 - Miles T. Martin Funeral Home, Mt. Morris, MI
2010 - Brunswick Funeral Home, East Brunswick, NJ
2009 - Arnett & Steele Funeral Home, Pineville, KY
Exemplary Service Awards
 The Exemplary Service Awards recognize Golden Rule firms that have displayed outstanding professionalism and exemplary service. The Exemplary Service Award is given to the top three nominees every year chosen by OGR members and is based on feedback OGR receives through the Family Contact Program. The Family Contact Program is an exclusive OGR member benefit that gathers feedback from the families served by OGR member firms. Exemplary Service Award recipients must be a current participant in OGR's Family Contact Program and must have received a comment or comments that represent family satisfaction with your services and indicate that the funeral home performed in an exemplary manner going above and beyond the expected. Visit www.ogr.org/family-contact for more information about the Family Contact Program and how to join.
Read each of their winning comments below!
Farmer & Son Funeral Home - "They are the most compassionate people. They let you decide what you want but help guide you to the right decisions. They have followed up with us to let us know they are there for us if we need anything. The visitation and the service were above our expectations. They tried very hard to make my husband look good after a rough bout with cancer and they did a great job. The funeral home had arranged for the USA Army Honor Guard to be at the cemetery and it was beautiful. It meant a lot to the family. The owners and staff do a wonderful job of making a very emotional time as easy as it can be."
Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler Mortuaries & Crematory - "Each and every member of the staff we encountered in-person or over the phone was kind, patient, understanding, respectful, and professional. One member of the staff in particular was exceptional in responding to a request that was the result of the review of our mother before the transport to the church. Specifically, her hair was not styled the way she wore it. Dawn responded to our request promptly and professionally, on short notice, and made it right! Dawn is a credit to herself, Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler and professionals!"
Oliverie Funeral Home - "Everyone was very friendly, compassionate, and professional. They were understanding and made a hard situation a bit easier. It was nice to not have to worry about anything regarding the viewing of the funeral. It all went smoothly. Everything was set up so beautifully, from the casket to the memorial video. At the cemetery, I did not have to wonder about anything; it was all taken care of smoothly and subtly. Both of my uncles chose Oliverie for their funeral services and they chose wisely. It's a beautiful, modern funeral home with amazing staff.
Previous Exemplary Service Award Recipients
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
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