Oakwood Cemetery is open daily from 8 AM till dusk, except for the winter months. It is closed during the winter, but the sexton will open the gates as weather permits.
A list of general cemetery rules is displayed on a sign at the entrance. An Information Center is located behind the chapel and contains the following:
- cemetery map
- gravesite directory (occupied spaces, reserved spaces, and open spaces)
- cemetery rules, regulations, and fee schedules
- cemetery brochures
Oakwood Cemetery is located at 455 E. Huron Street, Berlin, Wisconsin 54923
The people of the Berlin area were burying their loved ones in what is now Oakwood Cemetery even before the city was called Berlin. While no exact records remain, this was probably around 1850. The cemetery was officially named Oakwood around 1875, and a Cemetery Association was formed to operate and maintain the grounds in 1898. The Cemetery Association remained in charge of the cemetery until 1958, when financial conditions and state laws dictated it to be operated by the City of Berlin, which it is to the present day.
The original cemetery grounds, sometimes called the “old section”, have been expanded several times by the acquisition and donation of other parcels of land through the years. Oakwood Cemetery is the final resting place for numerous people important to the history of the area, as well as veterans of past American wars, including the Civil War.
The Griffiths Memorial Chapel was built in 1923, as a gift stipulated in the will of John E. Griffiths, a prominent Berlin businessman. His will also stipulated the purchase of the property where the chapel now stands, as well as the construction of the entrance arch and gates to the cemetery.
The chapel chimes were part of the original design, and were restored and electrified in 1970 when the entire chapel restoration was completed.
The entrance arch suffered deterioration over the years and in 1987 was fully restored.
In 1997, using funds designated in a trust by the estate of Nellie Mueller, the chapel received a complete interior and exterior restoration. Nellie was the aunt of attorney Sydney Mertz, who left a sizable bequest to Oakwood, and stipulated his aunt should do the same.
No Upcoming Events
We’re currently planning our next events and experiences. Please check back soon for future announcements.
While your waiting, please view the Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum brochure for information on a self-guided tree tour.
Burial Listing – Listed by Last Name Alphabetically (updated 8/31/2026)
Burial Listing – Listed by Block – Lot – Space (updated 8/31/2026)
Please contact the City Clerk’s Office with any Oakwood Cemetery questions.
108 N. Capron Street,
Berlin, WI 54923
(920) 361-5400
Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum
Please view the Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum brochure for a list of planted trees and self-guided walking tour.
About Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum
Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum in Berlin has been awarded a Level 1
Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving
particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The
ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at
various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism. Oakwood Cemetery’s Arboretum is also
now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s
arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.
Oakwood Cemetery was established around 1850, and was Berlin’s first cemetery. This city-owned
cemetery is situated on the east edge of Berlin on 54 acres of tree-covered hilly land. It features a 1920’s
Gothic Tudor chapel at its entrance and is home to about 500 trees. Many local wildlife (including turkey
and whitetail deer) consider it home. It is a beautiful, serene property with over 30 unique tree species.
After the emerald ash borer decimated about 60 ash trees, the cemetery board voted to have the
remaining trees inventoried and assessed by a local arborist team. The information gained from this
assessment helped the cemetery board make the decision to refocus attention on its tree collection,
which included working towards meeting the criteria to become an accredited level 1 arboretum.
The mission of the Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum is, “To preserve, protect and expand the collection of
trees and woody plants within the premises of Oakwood Cemetery, in an effort to inspire, educate and
promote a sense of community connectedness, while protecting valuable wildlife habitat.”
Regular planting of new trees, and maintenance of existing trees is a primary focus of the Oakwood
Cemetery Board. Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum now offers a self-guided walking tree tour showcasing
examples of the various tree species. These specimens are tagged showing both the scientific and
common name. A brochure with a map is located in the kiosk on the east, back side of the chapel. All are
welcome and there is no cost. Oakwood Cemetery is open daily from 8 AM until dusk, except for the
winter months. In the winter the sexton will open the gates as weather permits.
As the Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum continues to evolve, the group plans to add presentations to the
public about tree related topics, with the first anticipated for spring of 2027. Nancy Gimenez, a
spokesperson for the Oakwood Cemetery Arboretum says, “This is really a positive achievement for our
community. To me it opens the door for so many possibilities. At its most basic level, we hope it will serve
as a beautiful, relaxing, inspiring place to visit. At higher levels, we hope the arboretum will serve to
increase awareness and appreciation for trees, and envision it to be an educational resource for
individuals and groups interested in learning more about tree ecology. Attaining accreditation
demonstrates a certain level of professionalism and commitment to this project. We are extremely grateful
to ArbNet for this opportunity and appreciate its comprehensive approach to include smaller, rural
arboreta like ours.”