Memorial Garden
A Place for Remembering, Reflecting, Healing, Restoring
Kurt and Linda Kleinhans became interested in Memorial or “Scattering” Gardens in 2003 after seeing some news articles about this concept in the Milwaukee and Minneapolis newspapers. They began to discuss the idea with numerous Still Waters members, and felt there was genuine initial interest. When Kurt became ill in 2005, they realized that it might be time to again discuss this idea with the church, and with Pastor Matt’s help, both the Ministry Council and the Board of Trustees soon voted to move forward with the idea. While hospitalized in late August, Kurt drew up his vision of how the garden might be initially designed. After his death 8/31/05, plans for the Memorial Garden continued to move forward.
The Board of Trustees designated where and how the garden could be set up. Butch Beilman drew a plan to also show walkways and plantings. In late spring of 2006, a large monument with the Still Waters insignia and the 23rd Psalm was installed by Miller Monument of Jackson. They also installed a garden bench next to the Monument. The men of the church spent many hours grading the land, and they put in a long winding brick walkway and later a stone wall to mark the perimeter of the Garden. Plants, trees, flowers and bushes have been planted with the help of the church members. Some of these plantings have come from donations, and some have been paid from Memorial Committee funds. Forty stones were laid in a circular design around the monument.
The first memorial service held in the garden was for Kurt Kleinhans in early fall of 2006. The second was for Kurt Klosterman in 2008 (he died in 2005).
Despite the best efforts of volunteers, it was difficult to keep the garden watered and weed-free, so in mid-summer 2008 it was decided to hire Butch Beilman to do occasional maintenance.
Guidelines:
A fee of $200 per stone with engraving to be paid for by the family
No different stones permitted
Non-members will be allowed
No animals
Nothing can be added to the Garden without permission of Trustees and Memorial Committees
