Memorial Day at Forest Home

Join us this Memorial Day for a family-friendly day at Milwaukee’s historic cemetery. The morning begins with a memorial service in our landmark Ferry & Clas Chapel, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in the Garden of Honor.

Then stay awhile! Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or lawn chair, and spend the afternoon dining al fresco among the trees. Explore the grounds at your own pace, hear graveside stories from 14 historical interpreters, and take in the beauty of our arboretum.

See the list of notable people – including three who died during their military service – who will be portrayed this year.

• 11–11:30 a.m.: Memorial service in the Chapel led by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Wreath-laying at the Garden of Honor, bugling by Bill Seaman.
• 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.: Visit with notable Milwaukeeans at their graves. Full lineup below.
• 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Learn how Forest Home evolved along with Milwaukee on this original cemetery tour with historian, educator and author Paul Haubrich. This general cemetery overview is free, open to the public and features some of the prominent Milwaukeeans who helped build this city. This is Paul's 23rd Memorial Day tour!

This is a free event but registration is requested for our planning purposes.

What to expect: This outdoor event requires a lot of walking and standing; there is no seating, but guests are welcome to bring their own chairs and/or sit anywhere on the ground to rest or picnic. Please wear comfortable footwear and watch for very hot and/or humid weather.

Arrival: Please enter the cemetery at the Lincoln Avenue or Forest Home Avenue cemetery entrance. You do not need a ticket to enter.

Parking: There is ample free parking throughout the cemetery, but the roads closest to the re-enactment areas will be blocked off to ensure the safety of our guests; please do not drive around barricades.

Restrooms: Port-a-potties will be available.

Dogs: Allowed on leash with their humans.

LTJG Douglas H. Gutenkunst (1919-1944), as told by his father,
Hugo A. Gutenkunst (1883-1928)
Hugo Gutenkunst's son Douglas was a U.S. Naval Air Force pilot who was killed in action during WWII in Papua, New Guinea. On the final approach to the runway after a bombing mission, his Corsair fighter-bomber crashed mid-air with another plane. Doublas was killed instantly.
Hugo Gutenkunst portrayed by Sean Regan

Alfred L. Boerner (1900-1955)
A Milwaukee County landscape architect, Alfred Boerner planned the design of Whitnall Park and its botanical gardens and arboretum before being named general manager of Milwaukee County Parks. In 1957, the County Board renamed the botanical gardens after him, Boerner Botanical Gardens. The Milwaukee County Parks are his living memorial.
Boerner portrayed by Ron Winkler

Bertha Andrews Holbrook (1874-1947)
Bertha Holbrook was an author and a director of kindergarten teacher training who collected over 500 ABC books and wrote two: The ABC of Wisconsin (1939) and My First Hundred Books (1925). During WWI, she was the head of the Americanization Committee of the Milwaukee County Council of Defense, whose work it was to interest Milwaukee’s foreign-born immigrants in American citizenship.
Holbrook portrayed by Beth Kirsling

Sgt. Jacob R. Nunnemacher (1919–1945), as told by his mother,
Gertrude A. Nunnemacher (1888–1950)
Jacob was a member of the 10th Mountain Division, a ski-troop stationed in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy. Killed in action 10 days before the end of WWII, his story is told in the book, The Boys of Winter and the Mountain Men also were featured in The Saturday Evening Post in spring 1943.
Gertrude A. Nunnemacher portrayed by Anita Pietrykowski

Virginia Booth Vogel (1908-98)
Benefactress of the Milwaukee Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Milwaukee Public Library, Harvard University and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Virginia Booth Vogel donated more than $1 million for an acquisition fund at the Milwaukee Art Center and more than $1 million to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
Vogel portrayed by Carla Uphill

Dickey Chapelle (1919-65)
Born Georgette Louise Meyer, Dickey Chapelle worked for National Geographic and photographed US Marines in the Pacific during WWII. Her photographs also appeared in Reader’s Digest, Look and The Saturday Evening Post. She photographed the Korean War and was the first woman photojournalist killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Chappelle portrayed by Carly Moede

Mary L. Nohl (1914-2001)
This contemporary artist and sculptor’s home in Fox Point is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mary L. Nohl bequeathed $11.3 million to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to provide support for visual arts in the Milwaukee area.
Nohl portrayed by Katharyn Kominiarek

Max Eugene Nohl (1913-60)
Salvage diver, ocean floor explorer, adventurer and MIT graduate. He set diving depth records and pioneered a helium/oxygen breathing mixtures in a record breaking 420 ft dive to the bottom of Lake Michigan. He revolutionized deep sea diving. Author of the book, I Live Underwater.
Nohl 's story told by Bill Pelky

John P. Kissinger (1830-1900)
John Kissinger was a prominent German-American liquor wholesaler, operating the J.P. Kissinger Co. He sold brands like Monadnock Rye, and Arbutus Whiskey.
Kissinger portrayed by Yance Marti

Alfred Lunt (1892-1977)
A legendary American stage actor and director, Alfred Lunt also is renowned for his celebrated 40-year partnership with wife and fellow thespian Lynn Fontanne. They were a premier Broadway couple who made their home in Waukesha County an unofficial A-list vacation destination. Today, Ten Chimneys is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.
Lunt portrayed by Jim Vyvyan of Ten Chimneys

Lynn Fontanne (1887-1983)
Legendary stage and screen actress who performed with her husband, Alfred Lunt from the 1920s-1960s. After they retired, they lived at their estate, Ten Chimneys, in Genesee Depot. Married for 55 years, the couple were inseparable both on and off stage.
Fontanne portrayed by Barbara Felix of Ten Chimneys

Alice G. Chapman (1853-1935)
Daughter of Milwaukee department store owner, T.A. Chapman, whose family plot is memorialized with a Daniel Chester French bronze angel. Alice G. Chapman was one of the five founders of Children’s Free Hospital, a predecessor to Children’s Wisconsin. In conjunction with the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, she founded Milwaukee’s first summer school program or “vacation school” for children in 1899.
Chapman portrayed by Dana Solomon

Alice Miller Chester (1893-1972)
In 1921, she organized the first Girl Scout Council in Milwaukee, served as first president and was involved for more than 50 years. Camp Alice Chester is named for her. She drove ambulances for the Red Cross in France during WWI. First Junior League president.
Chester portrayed by Sally Kubly

George Brumder (1839-1910)
Considered the monarch of the German-American Press, publisher of the world’s largest German-language newspaper empire. He also he printed a wide array of books, calendars and almanacs.
Brumder portrayed by George Wagner

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee, United States

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