The rising popularity of cremation is putting one Barron County cemetery’s bank account in the red.

In fact, the owners of Lake View Cemetery in Chetek says about 50 to 60% of their business has become cremation burials. And that’s hurting their bottom line.

"They don't have to buy a grave, they don't have to pay for the opening and closing, they don't have to buy a vault,” cemetery Sexton, Robert Arneson said. “And the only income we have is opening graves and selling graves, so it's hurting us and it's hurting a lot of the cemeteries in the same way."

Arneson says each family currently has to pay $350 for a grave site and $450 to open a full grave. But he says it only costs the family $150 to open a partial grave for cremation burial.

"So, it's quite a savings,” Arneson said. “You can't really blame the people for this, you know, to save a few bucks."

But he says this trend isn’t leaving the cemetery with enough money to keep up with daily costs, like lawn care. And, by the way, cutting the grass at this place is no small job.

"It takes four and a half days to mow the cemetery. And the gasoline is getting way, well, you know how gasoline is. That's one of the big expenses."

Cemetery Association Secretary and Treasurer, Don Whitmore, says he’s doing all he can to help make ends meet.

"We have to actually draw on one of our CD's to help cover expenses,” Whitmore said.

"We figure right now that we have enough money in the bank to carry us for probably 2 more years. After that, we're going to be in trouble,” Arneson said.

If the cemetery does run out of money, Arneson says the city of Chetek will either take over the property completely, or reimburse the Lake View Cemetery Association for the amount it takes to keep things running.

But he says the 150-year-old cemetery isn’t going anywhere.

"We have to have the cemetery. It has to keep running.”

Arneson says public donations could help keep the Lake View Cemetery Association in charge of the land.

If you’d like to donate, you can send a check to:

Don Whitmore
402 6th Street
Chetek, WI 54728