About St. Joseph Cemetery

In 1878, 20 acres of land was purchased as a parish cemetery for St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Appleton.  This was during the historic rural cemetery movement, where cemeteries were being developed outside of town in a more park-like environment, and the area bordering the Fox River was a perfect setting.  St. Joseph Catholic Parish was originally the German Catholic church of Appleton and early monuments can be found in German.  Cemetery records were all recorded in German until 1909 when they were updated in English. 

St Joseph Cemetery has been a family affair.  Of the 6 people who have managed the cemetery since 1901, there have been 3 generations of the Groh family since 1926 for combined service of 78 years!  There have been 3 caretakers since 1959, including a father and son, Martin & John VanderHeyden for 56 years together!

In 1909 the arch at the west entrance of the cemetery was approved and in 1923 gates were added at both entrances to prevet "laofing" in the cemetery at night.  In the 1930's, the first Frank B Groh to manage the cemetery, found 14 families to donate $500 each to work on a dream of his for the cemetry, building the Stations of the Cross along the river bank.  Terra-cotta statues were imported from Germany and placed in individual stone grottos along a winding path next to the Fox River.  A bit later, a facsimilie of Our Lady of Lourdes grotto was established by Mr. Groh.  In 1931 the Statuary of the Crucifixion Group was dedicated and is a main feature in teh center circle on the main road.  The cemetery added a chapel in 1938.  The exterior is made of Lannon stone,  trimmed with Indiana stone, with a slate roof.  The inside has plastered walls, terrazzo floor and wood beams along the ceiling.  There aren't  pews or seating on the inside as it is designed to mimic a graveside setting.  There is an altar and statuary at one end and a stained glass window at the other. 

Taking over from his father, Rome Groh also helped make progress on the cemetery.  1962 brought the development of the Resurection Section and a large granite monument of the Resurrection was erected for this area.  The main cemetery road was paved with asphalt in 1968. It was around this time that vandals struck along the river bank in the grotto area.  Heads of the statues wer broken off, and over time they would continue to be vandalized.  The constant repairs were expensive and in 1975, it was decided to remove the statues. Mr. Groh established The St Francis Garden area of crypts in 1976 and expanded it in 1980.   Finally, he added the Holy Family Section in 1990.

Under the direction of Vernon Romenesko the rest of the cemetery roads were paved with asphalt and the cemetery was incoporated.

The third Groh to manage the cemetery was Frank J Groh.  During his time, the Prayer and Cremation Garden was designed and constructed in 2011.  In 2013, the St. Francis Gardens was expanded another time adding 170 crypts and 96 niches for cremation.

1887

Cemetery dedicated on December 1
by Most Rev. Francis Kruatbauer of the Green Bay Diocese.

1887 - 1900

Louis Schintz, Superintendent

1900-1926

J.H. Langenberg, Superintendent

1926-1959

Frank B Groh, Superintendent

1958-1990

Roumald (Rome) P Groh, Superintendent (Secretary/Treasurer)

1990-2007

Vernon Romenesko, Secretary/Treasurer

2008-2020

Frank J Groh, President

2020-Present

Tina LeFebre, President