EVERGREEN RULES & REGULATIONS

THE EVERGREEN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION HAS ADOPTED THESE RULES & REGULATIONS FOR THE MUTUAL PROTECTION OF LOT OWNERS AND THE ASSOCIATION. ALL GRAVE SPACES AND THEIR OWNERS, AS WELL AS ALL CEMETERY VISITORS, ARE SUBJECT TO THESE RULES. THE RULES & REGULATIONS WERE UPDATED IN 2024.

Table of Contents

Purpose    |    Definitions    |    Hours of Operation    |    Care of Lots    |    Control of Roads and Walkways    |    Flowers and Ornaments    |    Improvements    |    Interments    |    Lots and Grave Spaces    |    Monuments and Markers    |    Order and Decorum    |    Ownership Rights of Burial    |    Trash    |    Volunteer Work    |    Water    |    Winter Burial

Purpose

Evergreen Cemetery Association has adopted these rules to protect lot owners and the Association. All grave spaces, their owners, and all cemetery visitors are subject to these and any new rules and regulations the Board of Trustees may adopt and post. Purchasers of lots and grave spaces and their relatives and friends are reminded that the Board of Trustees has the duty and authority to amend these rules and adopt new regulations for the benefit and protection of all persons interested in the cemetery.

Definitions

  • Cemetery - a burial park for earth interments
  • Burial space - a 4x10 space large enough for one adult interment or six cremations
  • Memorial - a monument, marker, tablet, or headstone to indicate a resting place
  • Monument - a tombstone or memorial of granite, marble, or brass extending above the surface of the ground, including benches
  • Tablet - a memorial marker that is flush with the ground
  • Cornerstone – a marker that designates lot corners
  • Signpost – a post bearing a sign that gives information

Hours of Operation

Evergreen Cemetery is open during the summer months during daylight hours. The cemetery will be closed and locked during winter months. Winter months are established by the Superintendent and depend on weather conditions, usually from Thanksgiving to April 1.

Care of Lots

Evergreen Cemetery Association and its duly appointed Superintendent will do improvements, landscape work, and all planting, trimming, cutting, and removal of trees and shrubs.

Control of Roads and Walkways

All ways within the cemetery and all parts thereof are subject to the management of the Association, which may enlarge, reduce, change, replace, or close roads, drives, or walks. The Association reserves the right to change the boundaries of the cemetery.

Flowers and Ornaments

  • There will be no planting of any live or artificial plants, flowers, shrubs, or trees on any lot or space.
  • Single pedestal potholders or urns are the only approved grave decoration.
  • The Association shall not be liable for lost or broken vases or pots or for plantings damaged by thieves or vandals or destroyed by causes beyond the control of the Association.
  • Funeral floral arrangements and sprays may remain on a grave for up to two weeks after burial. Nothing else is to be placed on the ground where it will interfere with lawn maintenance.
  • The Association reserves the right to supervise lot decorations to maintain the uniform appearance of the cemetery.
  • No item deemed to be inappropriate shall be placed on any site. The Superintendent is responsible for removing such items.
  • American flags will be placed on veterans’ graves before Memorial Day and removed the week after Labor Day, or sooner if broken or discolored.
  • The Association reserves the right to remove floral designs, trees, shrubs, and ornaments whenever, in the judgment of the Superintendent, they are deemed unsightly or detrimental to the cemetery’s appearance or violate its historic integrity.
  • Illuminated ornaments, toys, plastic flowers, metal objects, landscape rock, and glass, iron, or foam ornaments are prohibited in order to maintain historical integrity and will be removed.
  • Temporary grave markers are prohibited and will be removed.
  • All plants, flags, and other decorations will be removed from lots and grave sites by October 15. Fall cleanup occurs between October 15 and November 15. Any remaining decorations at that time will be removed and discarded.
  • Seasonal winter decorations are permitted from November 1 to April 1. Spring cleanup occurs between April 1 and May 15. Any remaining decorations at that time will be removed and discarded.

Improvements

The Association and the Superintendent shall control all property in the cemetery. Alterations and modifications shall be made only under the direction of the Superintendent. The Association and the Superintendent have the right to remove or change any improvements or alterations made without the consent of the Superintendent at the expense of the lot owner.

Interments

Casket and Vault Burials​
  • A report for final disposition of a human corpse completed by a funeral director, as required by Wisconsin law, must be presented before interment can take place.
  • Wisconsin state law requires a licensed funeral director to be in attendance from the arrival of the body at the cemetery until the closing of the grave.
  • Only the burial of human remains is acceptable on cemetery grounds.
  • All interments must be made in concrete, bronze, copper, or stainless-steel vaults.
Green Burials
  • Evergreen Cemetery is not a conservation cemetery and does not permit green burials.
Cremation Burials
  • Up to six cremation burials are permitted per one burial space.
  • The cremated remains of one individual may be placed in the same grave space with a full-body burial as long as there is ample room to do so.
  • Vaults are not required. Should a vault be desired, the services of a licensed funeral home will be required.
Scattering of Cremains
  • Scattering of cremains on cemetery property is neither encouraged nor prohibited. Cremains that have been scattered will not be recorded in the burial database. If not purposely scattering cremains on an established gravesite, cremains should only be scattered on the perimeter of the cemetery where no graves are located.
Disinterment
  • Any disinterment requires necessary permits to be arranged through a Wisconsin-licensed funeral director.

Lots and Grave Spaces

Purchasers of lots and grave spaces acquire the right to bury their dead and to erect monuments and markers. No fences or enclosure of lots is permitted, and no mausoleums are allowed.

Monuments and Markers

All monuments and markers shall conform to the historical integrity of Evergreen Cemetery and shall also conform to the integrity of individual family plots as they were originally established. It shall be the Superintendent's responsibility to approve the erection of all monuments and markers.
  • Only one upright monument, which shall not exceed 4’, including the base, is allowed on a single burial space.
  • Only granite, bronze, or stainless-steel markers may be used.
  • All Monuments installed in Evergreen are to be 2-piece units, which include a base and a foundation. Slants and bevels are to have a base and foundation. Bevels will only be allowed in Section 4 and the developing area south of the road in Section 7.
  • New grave Markers are to be at least four inches thick, flush with the ground, and without raised letters, vases, or photographs extending above ground level. The size of these flat markers shall not exceed 36” across the 4’ width of a single burial space and no more than 54” on the 8’ width of a double burial space.
  • No Memorial of any type shall exceed 2’ on the 10’ length of a grave space. 8’ shall be reserved for burials.
  • Single pedestal pots or urns are allowed with any Memorial.
  • No monument, vault, tomb, effigy, or inscription shall be placed in or on any space deemed offensive or improper by the Board of Directors. The vote by any three (3) Directors can determine the appropriateness of any design on any monument that might jeopardize the integrity of the historic landmarked grounds or the nature of Evergreen Cemetery.

Order and Decorum

  • Loud talk and boisterous conduct shall not be permitted on the cemetery grounds.
  • In-line skating, roller skating, and skateboarding are prohibited.
  • Bicycles are permitted on cemetery roadways during daylight hours but may not interfere with funeral processions, ceremonies, or cemetery operations.
  • Motorcycles shall not be operated in the cemetery except for persons attending funerals or coming to the cemetery for business purposes.
  • No person shall sit on monuments or markers, except benches, or lounge on the graves or grounds of the cemetery.
  • No alcoholic beverages are permitted.
  • No dogs are permitted on cemetery grounds unless on a leash. Owners are responsible for clean-up attributable to their animals.
  • Firearms, except for during military services, are not permitted.
  • Fishing poles are not permitted.
  • No snowmobiling is allowed.

Ownership Rights of Burial

Ownership of a cemetery plot may be transferred through a will. If the deceased lot owner left no will, satisfactory proof of descent must be provided. Without a will, upon the death of the last owner, full ownership of the cemetery lot shall descend in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 157.10.

Trash

A receptacle for waste material is located near the pump. Throwing trash on the drives, over the banks, or on any part of the grounds is prohibited.

Volunteer Work

Those interested in performing volunteer work in the cemetery should contact the Superintendent for project approval.

Water

A pump is located centrally in the cemetery. It is available for watering plants. The water is not tested and is considered not safe for drinking. The Association is not responsible for any misuse of the pump or its water.

Winter Burial

All expenses for winter interments are the responsibility of the lot owner or those ordering the interment. There is no winter vault usage at Evergreen Cemetery.
Evergreen Rules & Regulations - Open PDF File​