Grand Island Nebraska

The concept of the Memorial Park Cemetery swept the nation in the late 30's and 40's, several in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk etc. The Westlawn Cemetery Association was formed by civic-minded business men and led by Dent Holcomb, John McCarthy, Carl Henderson, Ray Higgins, Lew Gerdes and Floyd Tyler.  The cemetery was managed by Jesse A. Moon & son Galen L. Moon, The lots went on sale in early 1948; original lots sold six for $200, only 250 sold at that price while development was underway.  The first interment was an infant son of Galen L. & Patricia A. (Palmer) Moon.

Westlawn differed from other area cemeteries, as there were no headstones but flat bronze markers. The original 20 acres on the north side of Stolley Park Road had several sections that developed over the first few years while the area north of Stolley Park Road opened with a Mausoleum in early 1970's.  Each section had a statue or monument; The Prayer has a large Holy Bible, the Veterans Section has a cannon (from the Pueblo, CO Army Depot*),  the Garden of the Last Supper with the large ‘Last Supper’ monument, the Garden of Gethsemane has a statue of Jesus  praying on the ‘ Rock of Gethsemane’.  The Cemetery under special agreement with the Catholic Diocese opened the Calvary Section with the large Cross-monument in 1952.

Prices increased along with development but the cost of maintenance was a fraction of other cemeteries with use of large modern mowers that could travel freely over the markers.

Source Galen L. Moon

Located at 3826 West Stolley Park Road – just east of Highway 30 and west of Highway 281.   

* after WWII had surplus war equipment released to Veterans organizations, cities and cemeteries for the cost of demilitarization and freight paid by receivers.