St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery
                                         Willow Township, Richland County, Wisconsin  USA

                                           
Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - November 27, 1958

                                                      St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery

    St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery in the town of Willow, adjoins the church. It is not a large burial ground and if it had been located just a few rods east it would have been over in Sauk county. It is on highway 154, section 36, town of Willow.
    The church, which was built many years ago, was made of logs but later it was sided and is still in use today. A Bible on the altar has the following inscription on the fly leaf "Donated by the ladies of the congregation May 26, 1935."
    The cemetery is well kept and in it sleep some of the worthy folks of that area, most of them of German descent. Some of the tombstones are in German and the inscriptions we could not translate expect the date of birth and the date of death.

    Several members of the Lasse family are in this cemetery, among them were Fred Lasse, born in 1862; Rosa, his wife, born in 1876; Christian Lasse, born in 1818; Anna, his wife; Charles and Catherine Lasse, whose births were in 1854 and 1860, and Margaret Lasse, who died in 1896 at the age of 69.

    The Siemandel family is also well represented. Frederick Siemandel, born in 1836, and died in 1903, is here by the side of his wife Wilhelmine, who was born in 1840, and died in 1916.

    On the stones erected for John G. Hanold and some members of the family, no quotations from the Bible are given, but reference is made as to where they may be found. On the marker for John George Hanold, who was born in 1857, and died in 1938, is inscribed "Luke 12-35-40," and on the marker for his wife, Johanna, born in 1860 and died in 1943, is engraved "Phil. 1-25." Psalm 23-12 is on the marker for Sigimund and George, another son, born in 1883, is this, "Psalm,16-2."

    Frank Klockow and his wife Cathryn, are here. He was born in 1844 and died in 1927, while she came into this world in 1849 and died in 1946.

    Perhaps the earliest to find final rest in this burying ground is Wilhelmina Foege. She was born in 1806 and passed away in 1892. Engraved on the stone is this: "Rest In Jesus."

    Four burials evidently have been made in the lot whose single stone bears the name of "Ludeke." No other markings appear upon the stone but cement covered graves indicate the burial of four people.

    Members of the Miller family are here. Carl Miller, born in 1845, Matilda Miller, born in 1849. Frank, born in 1885, and Amelia, born in 1887 are on the same lot while close by is a marker for Tena Marshall, born in 1882. She may have been a member of the Miller family.

    Delia Foege, born in 1867, and died in 1891, has a marker as does Clara Klockow. Arvilla Kissling, daughter of J. and G. Kissling, died in 1896 at the age of three years and eight months. On the marker on her grave it says:
            "Sleep on dear child and take thy rest,
             On Jesus arms forever rest."

    Little Kenneth David Herzing had a life of but a few days. He was born June 28, 1952, and passed on July 1, 1952. Another infant to be buried here is Magdalen, daughter of G. and A. R. Rieetel, whose span of life was but five days. She was born March 15, 1887, and died March 20.

    Caroline Shadewald, born on October 6, 1843, lived to be 61 years old, passing on in February, 1904.
     Members of the Grassman family are here, surrounded by relatives and friends. Lewis Grassman was born September 15, 1844, and died October 18, 1905, at the age of 61 years, one month and three days. Susanna, his wife, first saw the light of day August 24, 1851, and passed away on May 30, Memorial Day, 1935. Frederick W., a son. was born in 1875, and died in 1893. On his marker it says: "T'was hard to give him up but Thy will be done O God." A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Grassman, buried close by, was Anna, who was born in 1878, and died in 1882.

    William J. Riedel and his wife, Augusta, are buried here. He was born in 1871 and died in 1931, she was born in 1870.

    John H. Junge and his wife, Wilhelmina, are among the early born buried here. Mr. Jung was born in 1822 and she in 1825. Both passed on in 1915.

    Joseph M. Honer, World War I veteran, has a flag flying over his grave, the only one we saw in the cemetery. Mr. Honer born in 1893 and died in 1957.

    Other names appearing upon the stones in this cemetery are: Wolters, Witte, Willis, Rentz, Schumacher and Strickert.
    Church services, we were told, are held regularly.

S.F.


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