About Pine grove cemetery
Pine Grove Cemetery is a traditional non-profit, non-sectarian, licensed and perpetual care cemetery.
Located on Grand Avenue in Wausau Wisconsin, it is the oldest cemetery in Wausau. Rich in history and charm, our focus is on providing professional service and care to families. We work year-round at maintaining our grounds for families to enjoy while visiting their loved ones graves. We offer interment sites, pre-need or at need.
Founded in 1859, the cemetery began when the Wausau Cemetery Association, headed by Judge W.H. Kennedy purchased 40 acres of land. The money for the 40 acres was raised by the Judge and the first clearing of the grounds was completed by Wausau citizens with meals provided by the women in the community. In 1904, architect Neil Brown planted over 500 white pine trees on the grounds giving the Wausau Cemetery Association it’s new name: Pine Grove Cemetery. Now, over 165 years later, there are over 35,000 people buried in nearly 90 acres at Pine Grove. Some notable names in Wausau history who are buried here are the first mayor of Wausau, August Kickbusch, as well as Wausau founders Walter & Judd Alexander, the Yawkey Woodson family, and David Clark (DC) Everest.
Located on Grand Avenue in Wausau Wisconsin, it is the oldest cemetery in Wausau. Rich in history and charm, our focus is on providing professional service and care to families. We work year-round at maintaining our grounds for families to enjoy while visiting their loved ones graves. We offer interment sites, pre-need or at need.
Founded in 1859, the cemetery began when the Wausau Cemetery Association, headed by Judge W.H. Kennedy purchased 40 acres of land. The money for the 40 acres was raised by the Judge and the first clearing of the grounds was completed by Wausau citizens with meals provided by the women in the community. In 1904, architect Neil Brown planted over 500 white pine trees on the grounds giving the Wausau Cemetery Association it’s new name: Pine Grove Cemetery. Now, over 165 years later, there are over 35,000 people buried in nearly 90 acres at Pine Grove. Some notable names in Wausau history who are buried here are the first mayor of Wausau, August Kickbusch, as well as Wausau founders Walter & Judd Alexander, the Yawkey Woodson family, and David Clark (DC) Everest.
In 1911, Chicago Landscape architect O.C. Simonds came to Wausau regarding potential improvements, which included the landmark entrance archway. The archway was built in 1912 at a cost of $5,000 from funds raised by the Ladies' Literary Society. That cost in 2024 would be $161,945.88. The same year, construction on the large Egyptian Revival-style mausoleum was underway. The interior was fitted with Vermont marble and can accommodate 350 bodies. This mausoleum is owned and upkept by the Pine Grove Mausoleum Association, not by the Pine Grove Cemetery itself. The men behind the mausoleum were Roman Deutsch and Herman Flieth. You can find out more information about both of them in the "Historical Wausonians" link.
The very first cemetery in Wausau is reported to have been located on low land at the corner of Grand Avenue and Thomas Streets (Now, Hammond Park). In 1881 there was a flood that washed out the coffins that were buried there. The bodies were then moved to Pine Grove Cemetery. There is a site in Pine Grove for unknown burials that were reburied from the first cemetery or moved as unmarked from other cemeteries in the area. There is a large stone, and benches in a circle around it to memorialize these graves.
The very first cemetery in Wausau is reported to have been located on low land at the corner of Grand Avenue and Thomas Streets (Now, Hammond Park). In 1881 there was a flood that washed out the coffins that were buried there. The bodies were then moved to Pine Grove Cemetery. There is a site in Pine Grove for unknown burials that were reburied from the first cemetery or moved as unmarked from other cemeteries in the area. There is a large stone, and benches in a circle around it to memorialize these graves.
