Whether or not you have a loved one buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, this is a historic and beautiful place that is worth visiting. Since its establishment in 1852, this cemetery has become an integral part of the fascinating history in La Crosse, WI. Visit its 80 lush landscaped acres for a walking tour of the grounds, and don’t miss the Gund Memorial while you’re there.

Introduction to the Gund Memorial

The Gund Legacy

John Gund settled in La Crosse after emigrating from Germany in 1854. He began brewing beer in a small log cabin in town, at the corner of Division and Front Streets. In 1858, he formed the City Brewery with Gottlieb Heileman. He later withdrew from the City Brewery partnership and started his own brewery in 1872 along the southern edge of the city, named the Empire Brewery.

Empire Brewery was incorporated in 1880 as the John Gund Brewing Company. It was a family business, as all three of John’s sons worked at the brewery. It quickly became the largest brewery in La Crosse through the beer boom of 1890 to 1920. By 1897, the brewery covered 5 acres and was producing 60,000 barrels annually. John’s son Henry became president of the brewery after his father’s death in 1910. Prohibition of 1920 required the brewery to close its doors, but it was able to open again shortly to produce “wartime beer,” which had to maintain an alcohol content between 2.3% and 4%. The brewery was struggling at this point, and when the Brewery Workers Union went on strike, it was sold to the G. Heileman Company.

About the Memorial

The Gund Memorial honors this La Crosse brewing family. Built in 1924, it features a Greek-inspired pediment on top of four fluted Ionic columns. The memorial can be found along the northern edge of the cemetery, between the Cargill and Trane/Hood memorials.

When you visit the cemetery for its walking tour, you’ll see why it serves as a peaceful resting place for the people of La Crosse. When your own loved one passes, you can trust the funeral planning team here to guide you through every step of your burial services. Contact Oak Grove Cemetery at (608) 782-6956 to ask about their available cemetery plots or visit them online to learn more about their available services.