Cemetery seeking funds to straighten grave markers

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LONNA BORGERT inspects one of the several tombstones at Tiffany Cemetery in Boyceville that are tipping and need some attention. The association that is responsible for its daily operation is seeking donations to make repairs. This Tombstone is that of a F. J. Dencker, born on April 19, 1859 and died on February 10, 1904. —photo by Carlton DeWitt

BOYCEVILLE — The Tiffany Cemetery in Boyceville is like other area cemeteries in that it takes more money to maintain the grounds than the group that oversees the cemetery receives.

Operation of the cemetery is entrusted to a non-profit association that is responsible for the care and functions of the cemetery. Recently the Mound Cemetery at Downing, which has been operated by the Village Board, has been turned over to a non-profit association.

For the past hundred years, the City Cemetery in Glenwood City has been under the care of a non-profit association.

At Boyceville, where the care of the grounds takes most of the funds available, money is not available for things like taking care of tipping tombstones. The Village of Boyceville donates $2,500 annually to the cemetery, but they spend $3,200 just for labor to mow the grounds using equipment provided by the association.

Lonna and Bill Borgert are the two that do the mowing and see that needs of the cemetery are taken care off. They also are the ones that are called upon, when there is a burial. The association is trying to put together funds to straighten up old tombstones that are tipping over as the results of time. Borgert noted that, “It’s the responsibility of the family to take care of the grave space and markers, but some of those old stones are more than a hundred years old and there are no family members left or we can’t trace any family members.”

So, the Tiffany Cemetery Association is asking for donations to address those tipping gravestones. If you would like to help out address your donation to Tiffany Cemetery Association, 825 Tiffany Street, Apt. 1; Boyceville, WI 54725.

At the Glenwood City Cemetery, their annual report for 2019 showed that the association spent over $7,000 for ground care by a private company that furnished the mowing and trimming equipment. The city donates $1,000 annually to help with cost.

The only means that a non-profit association has for funding its care of the cemetery is the sale of grave spaces and perpetual care or from donations. If the non-profit association can’t fund the operation of a cemetery then the obligation to maintain it falls back on the municipality where the cemetery is located.