Meet our dedicated team.
James D. Rode
Owner
Jim was born and grew up around Middle Point, Ohio in Van Wert County, right next to his grandfather’s farm. He graduated from Manchester College in 1993, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration-management. He received his law degree from the University of Toledo in December of 1998.
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Jim’s career began in 1993 with Standard Federal Bank in Sylvania, Ohio as an assistant branch manager for five years. Jim’s primary duties included originating home loans and assisting his clients from application up to and including the closing. During that time, he was able to complete law school and was licensed to practice law in May of 1999.
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Jim started his legal career as an associate with the law firm of Gribbell, Sunderman and Collier in Deshler, Ohio. Jim became a partner in the law firm of Sunderman & Rode, LLP in 2006. Then upon the retirement of John Sunderman at the end of 2018, Jim became the sole owner of the firm in its present form, Sunderman & Rode, LLC.
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Jim primarily works in all areas of real estate. Since 2001, he has been a licensed Title Insurance Agent for First American Title Insurance Company. He spends his late winters and early spring preparing income tax returns for his clients with a focus on farming. He is also available with matters involving estate planning and probate.
Jim is currently the Village Solicitor of Deshler, Ohio and has been since 2012. He also currently serves as an assistant Village Solicitor for the villages of Cygnet, Hamler, Florida, and Holgate. He has also served on the McComb Local School Board.
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Jim resides just outside of Deshler with his wife Sara. They have raised two sons, Aaron and Justin. When not working, Jim likes to spend his time traveling with Sara and relaxing with family and friends. He will occasionally try to re-discover his golf game. Jim and his family are members of Harvest Fellowship Church in Hamler, Ohio.
Anthony C. Johnson
Associate Attorney
Tony was born and grew up around Napoleon, Ohio. His mom worked in health information at Fulton County Health Center, and his dad still runs Johnson’s Carpet and Tiling, Inc. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, and then his law degree from the University of Toledo.
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Tony’s career began in 2015 with Sunderman & Rode, LLP as a law clerk, and he became an Associate Attorney in the spring of 2016. Tony primarily practices in estate planning, business organization/planning, and municipal law. Tony also practices in real estate, and probate. Tony will also handle general litigation in areas of real estate, contracts, and other disputes with money damages. He will also prepare income tax returns.
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Tony currently serves as the Village Solicitor for the villages of Cygnet, Hamler, Florida and Holgate. He is also currently the Assistant Village Solicitor of Deshler, Ohio.
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Tony resides just outside of Napoleon on the Maumee River, with his wife, Andrea, his son, Elliott, and his daughter, Emma. When not working, Tony likes spending time on the Maumee River or Crooked Lake, waterskiing, wakeboarding, or wake surfing with his family and friends. In the winter as time allows, he enjoys snow skiing and snowmobiling.
Joan Meyer
Administrative Assistant - Probate
Joan’s career began in 1983 as a secretary/receptionist for Gribbell, Sunderman & Collier. Joan’s duties over the years have included all areas of the legal process including probate, real estate, payroll taxes, income taxes and estate work. Her passion in the legal field has always been working with families to help assist them in getting through the estate process when a loved one passes away and helping them navigate through what can be a difficult time for the family. She currently handles the processing of all our probate matters for the law office.
Joan and her husband, Mike, are lifelong residents of Deshler. They have four grown children and 10 grandchildren. Joan is also a member of many civic organizations and volunteers her time on many committees for the betterment of the Deshler community. In her free time, she loves their yearly family vacations at the beach, attending any type of type of sporting event and babysitting her grandchildren. Joan and her husband are actively involved as members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Deshler.
Christy Prigge
Administrative Assistant – Real Estate
Christy joined Sunderman & Rode, LLC in 2020. Christy primarily works with our clients regarding real estate matters. She will be the one helping through the process of buying or selling your home after contract to closing. Christy has brought 16 years of real estate experience from working for the Henry County Recorder’s office.
Christy and her husband, Mike, live in Hamler with their three children. Christy enjoys spending time with her family at home or mini vacations, as well as watching her kids’ sporting events and camping with her family and friends.
Deb Jackson
Administrative Assistant - Legal
Deb began her career at Gribbell, Sunderman & Collier in 1992 after working in the Law and Telecommunications Departments at Marathon Oil Company for ten years. She has also served as Secretary/Treasurer for the Deshler Chamber of Commerce since 2014 and worked as the Office Manager for Iberdrola Renewables from 2010-2016. Deb’s duties over the years have included all types of legal, real estate, bookkeeping, scheduling, tax work, and more.
Deb is a lifelong resident of Deshler and lives with her long-time partner, Kevin. Together they have five children and three grandchildren. She enjoys babysitting for her grandchildren and vacationing with friends and family.
Renee Wenzinger
Office Administrator
Renee joined our firm in late summer of 2022. She will often be the first voice you hear on the phone. Renee is responsible for scheduling, bookkeeping and putting her marketing degree to good use for the firm.
Renee was born and grew up on her family farm near Leipsic, Ohio. She graduated from Ashland University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Marketing in 1993.
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Renee has worked various business jobs over the years before having children, but mainly stayed home to homeschool her eldest three children over that past 20 plus years. She created and directed the Harvest Christian Academy for 18 years.
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She is active at Harvest Fellowship Church outside of Hamler, where she has taught VBS, teaches Sunday school, runs the meals ministry and helps teach a mom’s group. She also teaches the Christian Education Program at Leipsic Elementary School.
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Renee married her husband, Russ, in 1995 and together they have four children (Rachel, Ryan, Ross and Reagan). Together they enjoy hiking, traveling, serving others and running their family grain farm.