Cemetery director reports increased services, projects and Friends fundraiser

Cemetery Director Karen told the Waukesha City Cemetery Commission on Dec. 8 that Prairie Home Cemetery has recorded 173 services through October — more than the same period last year — and that staff expect to add roughly another 10 services from November and a few in December.

Karen said she was unable to obtain a profit-and-loss statement for the meeting because finance staff were unavailable but that she is working with the finance director to revise the P&L format so it will better match the cemetery’s reporting needs next year.

She outlined several upcoming projects: new electrical service to a streetlight pole on Prairie Avenue expected by year-end, an awarded tuckpointing contract to repair parapets and repoint the chapel (likely to occur in spring), and a Friends-led fundraising campaign to install a veterans area with installation hoped for by Memorial Day 2026. Karen noted the Friends group is actively raising money and that a sign at Section 8 has prompted several generous contributions.

Separately, a Friends representative reminded commissioners of a Friends fundraiser at Culver’s on Sunset (scheduled 5–8 p.m.) and reported approximately 190 registrations for the recent Tombstone Trot, despite rainy weather.

The commission asked whether members wanted paper packets; Karen said she will continue to provide paper packets if preferred. The commission set its next meeting for Feb. 9, 2026 and adjourned.