St. James Cemetery Offers A Place Of Peace And Remembrance

When we bury our dead, we do so not as an act of finality, but rather, one that honors that person’s faith journey. A burial carries the promise that the faith journey continues in anticipation of our glorious resurrection in Christ.

Our St. James Cemetery honors our parish’s dead by providing a beautiful place of rest and remembrance. The cemetery is located three miles east of Dawson in Baxter Township, Section 19, at the corner of 180th Street and 331st Avenue. Louie and Mabel Liebl donated an acre of their land, and an additional 2.2 acres was purchased in 1966. The cemetery consists of 3.2 acres, with approximately half plotted for graves and the remaining half being farmed until it is needed for future expansion.

Lisa Malecek became a member of the Cemetery Committee after her husband, Jerry, joined. She takes care of the bookkeeping tasks including making deposits, paying any bills, and keeping track of the plots.

“I think the members were asked to help out with the cemetery and then became members of the Cemetery Committee with the approval of the parish council,” Lisa says.

The members are Doug Hermanson, Nick Blascyk, Leonard Liebl, and Jerry Malecek.

Before the St. James Cemetery was established, our parishioners were often buried in either in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Madison or the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Montevideo. However, thanks to the Liebls’ donation, along with donations from parishioners and the St. James Men’s Club, as well as fundraising events, the cemetery became a reality.

“The first burial in the cemetery was Joseph E. Holan on Sept. 28, 1968,” Lisa says. “In 1998, VFW Post 5247 donated toward a Veterans Memorial Monument to honor the veterans. More recently, the Adrian Schueller and Wayne Marotzke families have contributed benches which are a great asset for people who visit the cemetery.”

The Cemetery Committee has several responsibilities, including keeping the grounds in order, assisting people in choosing a plot, marking the plots when there is a burial, and snow removal if there is a winter burial. They also give guidance as far as the rules and regulations of the policies of the cemetery.

“Leo Kockelman and Clarence Abraham were among the original caretakers of the cemetery,” Lisa says. “Later, Dennis Schueller took over this ministry and mowed and maintained the grounds for many years. Since 2011, Doug Hermanson has been the primary caretaker.”

Although the work of the Cemetery Committee may appear grounded in upkeep and records, this work is very much grounded in stewardship.

“By taking care of the cemetery, we are showing respect and are honoring the people who are buried there, who for the most part were parishioners, friends, and family,” Lisa says. “We have an obligation and a bond with them that continues even after death.”

The monument honoring our veterans has a prominent spot in the St. James Cemetery. The cemetery has spaces available and is well cared for.

Through their acts of stewardship, the ministry members have been able to grow in their faith. By providing a place of peace and beauty, they are not only enabling visitors to see the glory of God in this natural setting, but they also are providing a place for them to pray for, and remember their loved ones buried there.

“In the ministry of caring for the cemetery, it reminds us how we are not alone in our faith journey,” Lisa says. “We are part of a faith community that supports us, and that death is not the end of the journey, but another event in our journey.”

If you would like more information about purchasing a plot at St. James Cemetery, please call Lisa Malecek at 320-226-2709;at St. Joseph’s contact Joe Keller at 320-269-7247; atSt. Andrew’s contact Art Mehr at 320-981-0281.