How about a stroll through time at Saint Matthew’s Cemetery? This cemetery has been part of community life since 1864. Many church members, their family, friends, and local residents rest within these confines.
Saint Matthew’s Cemetery has been devotedly taken care of by church members since those early days. This tradition continues today. A walk through the older section reveals upright monument markers. They add character to the cemetery. The newer parts feature flat markers that create a park-like impression. Flat marker monuments are now the only option for new installations. This assists in cemetery maintenance.
Many families lovingly tend to their plots at Saint Matthew’s Cemetery. They keep decorations current. Flowers are watered and fresh. Headstones are cleaned. The grassy areas are weeded and fed. This example is encouraged. Nothing says “I REMEMBER YOU” more than a holiday, special event or seasonal decoration.
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church has a beautiful columbarium in the garden cemetery. It accommodates individuals and families who have chosen cremation. This project was made possible by a generous donation. The Stohl Family Trust Fund gave eighty-six thousand dollars to St. Matthew Lutheran Church Cemetery Enhancement Fund.
The columbarium is octagon-shaped. It is solid granite. It weighs thirty-six thousand pounds. The columbarium rests on eight inches of concrete. This includes nine piers sixty inches deep. The granite color is mahogany. The banner displays the names of all interred in the common burial space. It is black granite. The benches and interior crypts are maple in color. There are 64 double niches. There are 32 single niches. There is space for 930 interments in the common burial ossuary area. Wilbert Memorials of Parsons, Kansas constructed the Columbarium and Sundial.
The three-foot-tall sundial was designed by John Carmichael of Tucson, Arizona. Michael Forbes of Parsons, Kansas also helped design it. This is an Equatorial Sundial. It has two sides with time lines. Each side functions for half the year. The upper north side functions from the spring equinox to the fall equinox showing Daylight Savings Time. The lower south side functions from the fall equinox to the spring equinox showing Standard Time. John Carmichael is a renowned designer of Sundials throughout the United States. The Sundial located at St. Matthew is registered in the “National Registry of Sundials”.
Saint Matthew’s Cemetery offers a serene setting. It is a place to remember loved ones. It is a testament to community and faith. Its history and features offer a unique glimpse into the past and present.