Reichmuth Funeral Homes and Prospect Hill Restoration and Recovery INFORMATION
On April 26, 2024, a powerful tornado swept through Elkhorn, Nebraska, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Our Elkhorn location was among the establishments affected. We are grateful to report that while some of our exterior buildings sustained damage, the main funeral home facilities were largely spared, allowing us to continue serving families during these challenging times.
However, Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn suffered unprecedented damage. We have set up a fund for those that wish to help in the restoration and recovery of the cemetery.
Donate to the Prospect Hill Cemetery Restoration Fund
Damage to Prospect hill cemetery
The nearby Prospect Hill Cemetery experienced significant devastation. Numerous headstones were displaced or knocked over, profoundly affecting the sacred resting place of many loved ones. The visual of the damage is a stark reminder of the tornado's severity.
Cemetery Restoration and Recovery
In response to this tragedy, local monument companies have swiftly begun the painstaking work of assessing and repairing the damage. Their dedicated teams are on-site, methodically setting stones upright and restoring the dignity of the cemetery. Reichmuth Funeral Homes is coordinating with these companies to ensure that all efforts are harmonized and efficient.
Every penny helps. We thank you.
Community Support and Donations
Recognizing the magnitude of the restoration needed, we have established a Prospect Hill Cemetery Restoration Fund. This fund will directly support the recovery and maintenance of the cemetery, ensuring that it remains a place of solace and respect for those who visit.
We invite you to join us in these restoration efforts. Every contribution helps and signifies a beacon of hope and solidarity within our community.
Donate to the Prospect Hill Cemetery Restoration Fund
Moving forward...together
As we continue to assess and repair the aftermath of the tornado, we are reminded of the strength and resilience of the Elkhorn community. Reichmuth Funeral Homes is committed to supporting our community through these times of loss and rebuilding.
We will provide ongoing updates as the restoration progresses and as we learn more about additional ways to help. Thank you for your support, patience, and community spirit.
October 15th Update
As most of you know, the Cemetery sustained substantial damage as a result of the April 26, 2024 tornado. We would like to thank the many volunteers who immediately arrived to help clean up the debris strewn across the cemetery. The outpouring of assistance from individuals and businesses was unprecedented and included monument companies, people with chain saws and skid loaders, delivery of commercial trash bins, porta-potties, food and water.
In addition to the trees and debris in the cemetery, approximately 500 monuments were toppled. While the obligation to restore these monuments to their original place is the obligation of the individual owner, the cemetery board with the assistance of three local monument companies began to reset the downed monuments immediately. With Memorial Day a month away, we knew the importance of a rapid recovery. Almost all of the downed monuments have been restored to their correct position. The cleanup has continued and will continue for quite some time.
And, in case you are not aware, we are a small, non-profit cemetery with limited resources; the majority of operations are handled by volunteers at Schroeder Plumbing and Reichmuth Funeral Home. We have a very small paid staff for cemetery maintenance dedicated to mowing, trimming and cleaning of the cemetery grounds. While the initial donations for the cleanup have been generous, they will not begin to cover the costs of monument repairs and restoration, tree removal and tree replacement. We estimate that our expenses for monuments restoration to be close to $30,000 even with substantial donations of monument companies time and equipment.
We estimate the cost to reset each individual monument to be $300. If you had a monument that was displaced and then restored, the cemetery would appreciate a donation in that amount to cover the expense of resetting your monument.
We have not been able to determine the cost of tree removal but that will have to be dealt with before we consider any tree replacement. We have reached out to multiple state and government organizations seeking assistance for all of these issues but find that the cemetery does not fit their categories for assistance. We will continue to seek support for our small association.
If you have already made a donation, Thank You Very Much.
Prospect Hill Cemetery of Elkhorn Board