City of Princeton 

Saturday, August 24, 2024 the Cemetery Walk was held featuring the following individuals (individuals who did the portrayal listed after the name)
Betty Tuinstra - Gold Star Mother (Mary Lou Neubauer); Daniel Trainer Jr. - Dean of Natural Resources at UWSP (Pastor John Stelter); Daniel Trainer Sr. - WDNR Warden (Pastor Bruce Hanneman); Ernest and Martha Hiestand- Founders of Handcraft Co. (Ernie & Naomi Pulvermacher); Evelyn Shew - Wife of an early Princeton Merchant (Carol Graff); Harriet Paull-Wife, Mother, and Grandmother (Linda Ottman); Timothy Paull - Ice House Owner from the late 1800's (Daniel Hoppa); Polly Rosebrook - An early Princeton Settler (Susan Gorr); and an overview of the many Veterans buried in the City Cemetery (Will Gorr)  

The 2022 Cemetery Walking Tour Date is Saturday August 27th.  Held at the Princeton City Cemetery on Hwy 73 and Cty Trk J.  Tour times are 1:30pm and 4:00 p.m.   This years portrayals will be of great interest and include: 

The walking tour portrayals start with J. William Worm, who was one of the first Fire Chiefs for Princeton.  He is being portrayed by first time actor and current Princeton Fire and Rescue Chief Ernie Pulvermacher.  Returning actress Sue Gorr is portraying Mary Farnsworth Green.  Both Mary and Sue had careers as teachers.  First time actor Isaac Pappenfuss is portraying Fox River Locks Tender Gottlieb Jahnke.  Returning actress, City of Princeton Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer, Mary Lou Neubauer, will be portraying Elsa Rimpler.  Elsa’s husband, Albert, was also a clerk and treasurer for Princeton.  First time actress Claudia Tibbetts is portraying Edna Whittemore, returning actress, Linda Ottman is portraying Audrey Kasakaitas, and first time actress, Naomi Pulvermacher is portraying Cherryl Kasakaitas.  Edna, Audrey, and Cherryl are related as Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter respectively.  First time actress Carol Graff, is portraying Daisy Huber who lived to be over 100 years old.  First time actor Marine Veteran Will Gorr is portraying Daisy’s son Gregory Huber who was a Marine Veteran who served Vietnam.  Will Gorr is doing double duty, by doing 2 portrayals the same day and about ½ hour between portrayals.  Will’s other portrayal will be Active Duty Marine Roman Jankowski, who is buried in St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery and was killed in WWII.  When it is time for Will to portray Roman Jankowski, the tour will stop by the Catholic Cemetery, the tour will not go thru the Catholic Cemetery.  And, last but certainly not least is returning actor Pastor John Stelter portraying Warren Wachholz.  Warren had lots of community involvement and a worked as a mortician. 

The 2021 Cemetery Walking Tour was held Saturday, August 28th and there was also a Sunday Event (8/29) featuring individuals buried in the Catholic Cemetery.

City Cemetery portrayals include: Jacob Heyn, Vicar from St. John Lutheran Church will be portraying wagon maker August Swanke; Linda Ottman and Harvey Nickel will be portraying farmers Ellis and Rozella Brown; Mary Lou Neubauer will be portraying Adele (Della) Kannenberg while Pastor John Stelter will be portraying Della's son Donald Kannenberg and Ron Kannenberg will be portraying his father (and also Della's son), Frank Kannenberg.  Their story will include business owners and the lives of the sons including a time they were in WWII; Laura Skalitzky, Princeton Library Director will be portraying Elisabeth McDonald; Sue Gorr, portraying Rosina Krueger, and Chris Metras, Princeton School Administrator will be portraying George Kelly who was a Princeton Public School Principal.

The 2019 Cemetery Walking Tour "Tombstones Come Alive" was held August 24, 2019.   This years tour included a brief history on Carl Albert, boilermaker for the Soo Line Railroad, by Dave Dugenske;  Lena Baker, Supper Club owner by Mary Lou Neubauer; Lena Siepert, wife of a Harness Shop owner by Alaina Sowieja; Martin Van Buren, Farmer & 2nd Cousin to President Van Buren by James Fraiser;  Maria McIntyre, Civil War era by Sue Gorr; Sarah Fowler, relatives were in the Revolutionary War by Carol Siddall; Gustave Teske Sr, General Merchandise Store Owner by Pastor John Stelter; Gena Prachel, Midwife by Linda Ottman;  Albert Eygabroad, Civil War Veteran, Jamie Williams; and Dr. Norbert and Louise Dahlke, Veterinarian and County Home Economist by Ron Hatfield & Mary Fritsch. 

Saturday, August 25, 2018 the "Tombstones Come Alive" second annual walking tour highlighted 12 individuals from Princeton's past.  Among those highlighted will be Olive Doyle - early Librarian, Herman "Ham" Megow - meat market owner, Edward Mevis - banker, Polly Harvey Rawson from the Civil War era and eight others.   This historical event also highlighted the extensive work done in the city cemetery to preserve the monuments and grave sites over the past year.  

Click on the "2018 Cemetery Walking Tour" heading above for a printable version of the days event brochure.

The restoration has several components: 

1)  Cataloging and Indexing Grave Sites            2)  Monument and Grounds Clean-up

3)  Monument and dedication of Potter's Field    4)  Restoration of Monuments and Burial Sites

5)  Designation of War Veterans Sites

A fund raiser was held which was the reproduction of the Original Band Mothers Cookbook from 1933.   This exact replica sold for $15.00 and was a cookbook created in the 1930's as a means to raise funds for band music, uniforms and other needs of the school band.  This fund raiser has ended as the cookbooks were all sold out. 

"Scenes of the Past" are Historical articles which are published in the Princeton Times on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from February through November. Following are a reprint of the stories which have been published.

The first annual Cemetery Walking Tour took place on August 26, 2017.  "Tombstones Come Alive" provided portrayals of 12 individuals who helped form Princeton's History, along with highlighting the ongoing cemetery restoration project.

Funds raised throughout 2017 allowed the committee to start on larger projects which included wall replacement.  Several walls which surround grave plots are beginning to crumble.  City Staff and local volunteers spent a day on the grounds cleaning stones and cleaning the areas.   

Flag holders for ALL Veteran's sites have been obtained through the assistance of the VFW Post in Princeton and have been placed at the Gravesites of those who served.  (see story below)

As weather permits, several stones will be repaired this year.   The funds for this project have been raised through donations, fund raising and grants. 

Many stones in the cemetery are in the excess of 100 years old.  Stone restoration can include clearing overgrowth or cleaning of the stone, or may be more extensive and include actual stone repair.  The City has engaged the services of a professional to undertake those with extensive repairs needed.

The Restoration Project has been fund raising to cover the project costs.  Donations have come from private parties, civic groups, and bake sales.  A donation plaque is placed on the building honoring those who have provided a financial contribution.  Pictured is a donation received from the local VFW Post which started the fund base.

Located on the storage shed, the Cemetery Information Board was added in 2015.  The map display shows the unique "clover leaf" design, along with current events and upcoming fund raisers. There also is a plaque honoring those who have donated to the Restoration Project. A donation of $50.00 or more will generate a plaque in your honor. As part of an Eagle Scout Project, Jack Peters of rural Berlin, built the sign for the front of the building and erected a flag pole by the Gravesite of the Unknown Soldier.

The need to preserve the paper maps from the 1800's proved to be a challenge until we discussed the project with Linda and Russell Forbess of "Seams Old".  Being recommended by the Wisconsin State Historical Society, Linda preserved our maps for years to come.