Cemetery Information, Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations
Peninsula Township owns and maintains three non-denominational cemeteries: Ogdensburg, Bohemian, and Peninsula Township cemeteries.
OGDENSBURG CEMETERY
Ogdensburg Cemetery is located at 16550 Center Road, on the corner of Center and Ladd roads. Currently there are no lots for sale in Ogdensburg Cemetery, but the clerk maintains a waiting list should a current deedholder wish to sell a plot.
BOHEMIAN CEMETERY
Bohemian Cemetery is located at 1640 Neahtawanta Road between Kroupa and Shipman roads. Currently there are no lots for sale in Bohemian Cemetery, but the clerk's office maintains a waiting list if a current deedholder wishes to sell a plot.
PENINSULA TOWNSHIP CEMETERY
Peninsula Township Cemetery is located at 15318 Peninsula Drive south of Kroupa Road. This newest and largest cemetery in the township has a standard layout with lots marked at the corners with circular, in-ground, stainless steel plaques. These plaques are flush with the landscape and delineate the lot number and corner. In addition to the regular cemetery, Peninsula Township Cemetery offers a green cemetery section and a pet cemetery section. A memorial forest and columbarium have been proposed, but neither have been established to date.
PRICING INFORMATION
Lots (containing four plots) and/or individual plots in Peninsula Township Cemetery are available for purchase from the clerk's office. Prices are per plot and were approved by the Peninsula Township Board on March 28, 2023. Purchasing an individual plot gives the resident/non-resident of Peninsula Township the right to bury in this plot one body or one body and one cremains or one cremains or two cremains. Plots are 6 x 12 feet except for plots in the pet section, which are 6 x 6 feet.
New Rates (effective 4/1/2023)
A sexton fee will also be assessed for opening and closing the grave. Sexton Fees as of April 1, 2023. Prices subject to change
Bob Wilkinson, Sexton, 231.633.2592
Burials Monday-Friday
Foundations - The sexton sets foundations for a fee of 30 cents per square inch*
*All veterans are charged a discounted rate of $100 no matter the size of the foundation
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The cemeteries are open for interments year round for full body burials and from spring thaw to fall freeze for the interment of cremains. Burial rights may be purchased regardless of race, color, creed, religion, or country of origin. State of Michigan rules and regulations apply to township cemeteries. A full list of the local rules and regulations concerning the township’s cemeteries are located in the Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance. Of particular relevance, please:
GUIDELINES
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR GREEN BURIALS
The township board passed Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance #58 on November 14, 2023. Read the ordinance here: Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance.
Highlights from the new ordinance include the following:
"Unused burial rights permits shall become an asset of the owner’s estate, and their respective burial right permits must be deeded and/or sold to a family member or the township upon the passing of such owner. Permits that are not deeded and/or sold to a family member must be sold back to the township. All burial right permits deeded and/or sold must be transferred through the township clerk’s office so that township records remain accurate.
Additionally, the ordinance notes that burial rights permits sold after the effective date of this ordinance and remaining vacant for 30 years or more from the date of sale shall automatically revert to the township once the following events have occurred:
First, the clerk shall send a notice by first-class mail to the last known address of the last owner of record informing them of the expiration of the 30-year period and that all rights with respect to said burial space(s) will be forfeited if they do not indicate in writing within 60 days that they desire to retain the rights; and second, no written notice is received within 60 days from the date of mailing the notice.
Please note that if a family places a memorial marker or headstone on a lot or plot, even if that lot or plot is not otherwise occupied, it is no longer considered to be unused, and the family does not need to get in touch with the township unless they wish to exercise their right to bury someone in that location. In other words, it is perfectly fine to erect a memorial without actually burying a body or cremains."
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Peninsula Township honors all veterans buried in our township by placing a flag on their graves each Memorial Day.
If you are aware of any veteran gravesite that has not received a flag or if you have additional questions about the burial options available in Peninsula Township, please contact the clerk, Becky Chown, at 231-223-7321, send an email to [email protected], and/or call Sexton Bob Wilkinson at 231-633-2592.
OGDENSBURG CEMETERY
Ogdensburg Cemetery is located at 16550 Center Road, on the corner of Center and Ladd roads. Currently there are no lots for sale in Ogdensburg Cemetery, but the clerk maintains a waiting list should a current deedholder wish to sell a plot.
BOHEMIAN CEMETERY
Bohemian Cemetery is located at 1640 Neahtawanta Road between Kroupa and Shipman roads. Currently there are no lots for sale in Bohemian Cemetery, but the clerk's office maintains a waiting list if a current deedholder wishes to sell a plot.
PENINSULA TOWNSHIP CEMETERY
Peninsula Township Cemetery is located at 15318 Peninsula Drive south of Kroupa Road. This newest and largest cemetery in the township has a standard layout with lots marked at the corners with circular, in-ground, stainless steel plaques. These plaques are flush with the landscape and delineate the lot number and corner. In addition to the regular cemetery, Peninsula Township Cemetery offers a green cemetery section and a pet cemetery section. A memorial forest and columbarium have been proposed, but neither have been established to date.
PRICING INFORMATION
Lots (containing four plots) and/or individual plots in Peninsula Township Cemetery are available for purchase from the clerk's office. Prices are per plot and were approved by the Peninsula Township Board on March 28, 2023. Purchasing an individual plot gives the resident/non-resident of Peninsula Township the right to bury in this plot one body or one body and one cremains or one cremains or two cremains. Plots are 6 x 12 feet except for plots in the pet section, which are 6 x 6 feet.
New Rates (effective 4/1/2023)
- Individual Plot - (Resident) $750, (Non-Resident) $3,000
- Plot in Green Section - (Resident) $1,000, (Non-Resident) $3,500
- Pet Section - (Resident) $300, (Non-Resident) $700
A sexton fee will also be assessed for opening and closing the grave. Sexton Fees as of April 1, 2023. Prices subject to change
Bob Wilkinson, Sexton, 231.633.2592
Burials Monday-Friday
- Full Body: $650 ($500 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Cremation: $400 ($250 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Full Body: $850 ($700 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Cremation: $600 ($450 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Full Body: $950 ($800 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Cremains: $700 ($550 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Full Body: $1,100 ($950 sexton opening and closing fee plus $150 administrative fee)
- Cremains: no cremains are interred in the winter when the ground is frozen
Foundations - The sexton sets foundations for a fee of 30 cents per square inch*
*All veterans are charged a discounted rate of $100 no matter the size of the foundation
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The cemeteries are open for interments year round for full body burials and from spring thaw to fall freeze for the interment of cremains. Burial rights may be purchased regardless of race, color, creed, religion, or country of origin. State of Michigan rules and regulations apply to township cemeteries. A full list of the local rules and regulations concerning the township’s cemeteries are located in the Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance. Of particular relevance, please:
- Schedule all interments with the sexton and present the necessary burial transit permits to the sexton.
- Avoid conduct unbecoming a sacred place.
- Place waste materials in the conveniently located receptacles.
GUIDELINES
- Individuals who wish to purchase lots/plots should visit the township office, where the clerk's office will aid them in making a selection and will issue a burial rights permit describing the lot/plot once complete payment has been made.
- Lot/plot descriptions will be in accordance with the cemetery plats that are kept on file in the township office.
- It is the duty of the lot/plot owner to notify the township of any change in address.
- Individuals must work with the sexton when considering the purchase and placement of grave markers, headstones, monuments, or benches.
- Except for green burials, all markers must be placed on a cement foundation. The foundation must be flush with the ground and have a four-inch perimeter around the individual marker. In addition, all foundations require a six-inch setback from the owned lot/plot and must be approved by the sexton regarding size, design, specifications, quality, material, lettering, finish, and workmanship. The installer is financially responsible for any damage that might occur.
- All full-body interments require vaults except for those in the green section (see below).
- Unused lots/plots become the asset of the owner's estate and must be deeded to another party or resold back to the township; in either case, the burial rights permit must be transferred through the township office.
- If the lot/plot owner decides to sell any grave plot, he or she must sell to Peninsula Township, which will buy unused grave plots at one-half (50%) the prevailing selling price.
- The general care of the cemeteries is assumed by the township. The township, along with the sexton, maintains the trees and shrubberies that either have been left in place or planted by the township. Individual plantings are not allowed with the exception of spring bulbs, which may be planted at grave sites in all sections except the green section. The sexton is not responsible for maintaining existing individual plantings.
- When multiple lots/plots are owned, the location of interments is designated by the owner(s) or, if the owner(s) is deceased, by the individual or entity with the legal right and power to make decisions concerning the disposition of the deceased individual’s remains.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR GREEN BURIALS
- All materials for a green burial, including but not limited to clothing and mementos, must be biodegradable, with the exception of non-biodegradable medical implants.
- Bodies and cremains must be buried in biodegradable burial containers.
- Bodies that are buried in a blanket or shroud must be placed on a flat board to be lowered into the ground.
- No plantings are allowed in this section of the cemetery.
- Permanent grave markers are now permitted for green burials and associated plots. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, markers for green plots must not exceed 10 x 20 inches for a single marker or 12 x 30 inches for two people. These markers must lie flush with the ground and be constructed of granite. Green burial plot markers may be engraved but must remain simple in appearance. The final location and appearance of a marker is subject to the sexton's approval.
The township board passed Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance #58 on November 14, 2023. Read the ordinance here: Peninsula Township Cemetery Ordinance.
Highlights from the new ordinance include the following:
"Unused burial rights permits shall become an asset of the owner’s estate, and their respective burial right permits must be deeded and/or sold to a family member or the township upon the passing of such owner. Permits that are not deeded and/or sold to a family member must be sold back to the township. All burial right permits deeded and/or sold must be transferred through the township clerk’s office so that township records remain accurate.
Additionally, the ordinance notes that burial rights permits sold after the effective date of this ordinance and remaining vacant for 30 years or more from the date of sale shall automatically revert to the township once the following events have occurred:
First, the clerk shall send a notice by first-class mail to the last known address of the last owner of record informing them of the expiration of the 30-year period and that all rights with respect to said burial space(s) will be forfeited if they do not indicate in writing within 60 days that they desire to retain the rights; and second, no written notice is received within 60 days from the date of mailing the notice.
Please note that if a family places a memorial marker or headstone on a lot or plot, even if that lot or plot is not otherwise occupied, it is no longer considered to be unused, and the family does not need to get in touch with the township unless they wish to exercise their right to bury someone in that location. In other words, it is perfectly fine to erect a memorial without actually burying a body or cremains."
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Peninsula Township honors all veterans buried in our township by placing a flag on their graves each Memorial Day.
If you are aware of any veteran gravesite that has not received a flag or if you have additional questions about the burial options available in Peninsula Township, please contact the clerk, Becky Chown, at 231-223-7321, send an email to [email protected], and/or call Sexton Bob Wilkinson at 231-633-2592.
Cemetery Bench Donation Policy and Application (website opens in new tab) - look under general information on parks page.