HISTORY OF
ST. MARY CEMETERY
by
Mr. Gregory Lauer
St. Mary Parish was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in the year 1905. In less than one year, it was decided a cemetery was needed. It was common to have the cemetery on church grounds; unfortunately, the surrounding area of the church was all rock. Therefore, it could not be used. In 1906, one acre of land was purchased from Mr. Nic Becker, Sr., for a cemetery. It is located on a hill about two miles east of the Church on Highway 74 near the intersection of Highway 145.
The first burial was Catherine Rott, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. August Rott, on September 1, 1906. There are no records of the acquisition of the second acre which adjoins the cemetery on 3 sides. To the best of my knowledge this was in the late 1930’s and it was a gift from Mr. Becker, with one stipulation: that each of his children was to receive a burial lot, which is now in a row near the double driveway of the cemetery.
In January of 1948, as forty acres of adjacent land were to be subdivided, parish members, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Schmidt, purchased the remaining thirteen acres and deeded them to St. Mary’s for cemetery purposes. The cemetery was being developed and plans were made for beautification as a place of dignity, as a final resting place. . . . . . section after section was developed.
Due to the fact that his cemetery is located on a hill, it was a cold place for interments and during inclement weather. After a few years of discussion and deliberation, plans were made to go ahead with construction of the mausoleum and Chapel. Clarence and Loretta Roskopf, life-time parish members, made a contribution to cover the cost of a chapel to be located inside the mausoleum.
In the Spring of 1994, St. Mary’s stared with “pre-construction” sales . . . .due to the vast amount of sale, the size of the building was increased from 518 units to 700 units.
the Mausoleum was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1995, by Bishop Sklba.
