BETHEL CEMETERY

JELSMA

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 10/16/2014 at 12:55:33

BETHEL CEMETERY.

Saturday, I went to Eden Township, looking for the Manchester Cemetery and
did not find it -- even with the help of a good looking 'old' cowboy...
Might have brought him home with me if he'd offered.. I ALWAYS confess to
being a female who is map challenged -- and they like that!!
Apparently this is in some area where there is no road access.. Will try
again later..

Then I went on south looking for Bethel Cemetery. I used my odometer and
the Google map, along with the map from the Decatur Co. website.. Well
HRUMPH!! I follow them to the 'T' and still don't get there.. I drove back
on a road that I knew only went to a farm house and the lady there told me
how to get there. So, I finally found it..

I had the great pleasure of meeting Janet & Keith Jelsma, who were at the
cemetery touching up the silver paint on the gates and posts.. That was such
a serendipity for me to find people who actually truly care about a cemetery
s upkeep.. They told me about cleaning up the cemetery in 2005, with $2,000
and volunteer help.. All the stones have been re-set on concrete bases and
it is beautiful.. Janet is going to send the article from the Leon Journal
Reporter about their endeavor to keep this cemetery beautiful for many years
to come. Janet has JONES relatives there. She also said that they insisted
on it being mowed 8 times this year, instead of 4.. Bless them for their
tenaciousness in this endeavor!! And, they were very friendly folks..
Janet has transcribed the Bethel Cemetery on the Decatur Co. website, it's
very thorough, even showing known burials without headstones. I believe she
said there were somewhere around 400 actual burials and only 125 headstones.
(Don't quote me on those numbers...)

Janet also helps Bob Bixby at the Decatur County Museum in Leon. After
seeing several cemeteries in such disrepair and sad conditions -- this is a
true testament to the work that can be done to repair and keep a cemetery
for years to come.. It goes without saying that Janet & Keith's hearts are
truly in this cemetery upkeep!!

I ventured on over to the Salem Mennonite Church/Cemetery and then on to Meek Cemetery, which is back off the road on a lane that was a challenge.. I only got half of the headstone pictures there, as my 2 camera cards - 64 mbs were full.. So, it'll be a good reason to head back that way again soon. My Best, Nancee