In 1997, the Holy Spirit began to move in a small group of church members to dream and imagine a design and landscape of the wetlands behind the current church building. The five acres of wetlands are owned by the church but subject to the permission and review of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Ascension member Haskell Reichert was inspired to create a Memorial Green area in memory of his wife, Loretta. During the next few years, conversations and dreams became meetings and tasks planned and communicated to the growing, faithful community of Ascension. It was decided that an Ash Garden, where we might scatter the cremains of loved ones, would be planned and added to the designs for the Memorial Green space. A plan for landscaping was designed, a gravel path was installed, an island of rock was created above a natural creek that runs through the property, and the Ash Garden began to take shape. The members of Ascension donated their time to help the Memorial Green to take shape and then donated their dollars to bring in more than 200 plants and trees to help shape the Memorial Gardens into what you see today.
A pavilion was added in the summer of 2010 to provide a sense of place for outdoor worship during the summer months. It is now used to host weddings, receptions, funerals, and a multitude of other moments in the life of the church. Mark Otto blessed the pavilion with the addition of a brass cross to match the cross that hangs over the altar in the main sanctuary of the church.
In 2017, after the death of Ascension youth Fabricio Aparico in 2016, a fellow member of the youth group, Ethan Saye, created an Eagle Scout project to offer a permanent witness to the glory of God. The Memorial Gardens were again refreshed with the planting of a tree in honor of Fabricio and the placing of a large rock with the Bible verse from John 14:1-2, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
In 2018, after the death of their son Ryan in 2017, Mark and Debbie Pichler gathered donations to offer some permanence to the gathering space where we scatter cremains, adding large, carved rock steps down to the creek, a bench for reflection, and a trail to the Ash Garden allowing for greater accessibility for those with mobility challenges. Again, countless volunteers, members and friends of Ascension heard the call and joined in the construction and planting of additional plants.
In the summer of 2021, an Eagle Scout project by Kurt Werner added a Butterfly Garden with gravel path to continue to extend the path from the Ash Garden to more of the main Memorial Gardens with additional seating to rest and reflect. A beautiful triple cross metal art fixture was added in the summer of 2022 by the skilled hands of Paul Maass. In 2023, Addison Jahner, also ready to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, wanted to complete the gravel path from the Ash Garden and the Butterfly Garden all the way to the parking lot while also adding more beauty to the space. A plan was formed, and once again members and friends rolled up their sleeves to bring the dream to life.
In the Spring of 2024, a member of the congregation had a vision of making the Memorial Gardens accessible to all and provided the seed money to extend and complete the cement path from the parking lot to the Ash Garden gathering space. Within weeks the money was raised, and the path was completed in early May of this year, providing access for all who feel the call of God to enter into a space of reflection and remembrance. Today, the Memorial Gardens are filled with life to the glory of God. In the midst of death, there is always the promise of life. The Memorial Gardens serve as a living reminder of the power of God in the promise and presence of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Thanks be to God!
