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Hahn leaving cemetery post after 36 years
Published 2/6/2012 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
rgray@gctelegram.com
A lot has changed in the Garden City cemeteries over the past 36 years.
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Rachael Gray/Telegram Jim Hahn, cemetery sexton for the city of Garden City, is retiring after more than 36 years of service. Hahn is the third in he and his wifeÕs family to work in the cemetery.
Jim Hahn, cemetery sexton, has seen all of those changes.
As of March 1, Hahn will retire after serving as sexton since February 1977.
Hahn began work in the cemetery in 1975 as a laborer. He is the third in he and his wife's family to work in the cemeteries.
"I'm a third generation in the cemetery. My wife's great grandfather, A.M. Sturdevant, was there 27 years. His son-in-law, Ned Solze, my wife's grandfather, was there for 25 years. I am Ned Solze's grandson-in-law, and I've been there 36 and a half years," he said.
Hahn said he holds the same principles as Sturdevant, who served as sexton from 1929 to 1954.
Sturdevant focused on beautifying the cemetery, as did Hahn during his time as sexton. Hahn did all of the landscaping in the cemetery, and also developed roads in the newer parts of Valley View Cemetery.
During his time as sexton, he oversaw the care, maintenance and operation of Sunset Memorial Gardens and Valley View Cemetery.
He helped erect a Forefathers Monument to preserve the history of Garden City forefathers who are buried at Valley View Cemetery. His father-in-law, Vernon Solze, who has studied the history of cemeteries in Finney County, designed the monument.
Solze also worked in the cemetery during summers in high school.
Hahn said he used bricks from Main Street for the monument.
"There's 147 bricks up there. I know because I laid them myself," he said.
Along with beautification of the cemeteries as they expanded, Hahn focused on reserving respect for the deceased.
"I believe everyone buried in that cemetery is a part of history. And they have a history behind them — what they did or what they didn't do. That's what I tell people. Everyone is equally as important. You don't have to be famous. Everyone should be buried with honor and dignity," he said.
Hahn also believes everyone is a part of history. It's a personal history, as well as the history of the city and western Kansas, he said.
Along with Solze, the men are trying to preserve the history of the cemetery.
Solze did research 10 to 15 years ago with the Finney County Historical Society to document the history of the cemeteries in Finney County. Markers were set up along the different cemeteries in Garden City.
The city cemetery originally was started by a women's garden club in 1883. As the cemetery grew, a sexton was needed and the city took over. In 1954, when Sturdevant retired, single graves sold from $30 to $50. In 1930, the prices were $15 to $25.
Hahn said graves now go for $400.
In 1954, at the time of Sturdevant's retirement, there were between 7,000 and 8,000 graves in Valley View Cemetery.
Hahn reported last week that 13,360 people are buried in Valley View Cemetery, and 679 are buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
The upkeep of the expansion of the cemetery is something Hahn prides himself on.
"The old part of the cemetery was about 75 percent weeds and dirt," he said. "I turned it around to what it is today. Plus, I developed everything from the office south and to the west. So we basically doubled in size," he said.
Hahn also helped start the Kansas Municipal Cemetery Network, which was established in 2006 and has 115 members.
Hahn said the network is to share information with other cemetery sextons across the state. With the most experience, Hahn said he has been a resource for newer sextons or those with smaller cemeteries.
Hahn said that during his time as sexton, he has developed a sense of humor.
"In dealing with death so many years, you have to have a sense of humor. People think I'm different, and that's OK by me. It takes a different kind of person to do this work," he said.
In his retirement, Hahn plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and to enjoy himself.
"It kind of gives you that time to do things that you don't have time for when you're working full time," he said.
City manager Matt Allen said Hahn is one of the most dedicated and accomplished public servants in Garden City's history.
"He has done a tremendous job with both cemeteries, often with very limited resources. More importantly, he has provided first-class service to citizens," Allen said.
Found 1 comment(s)!
Great Job
Jim is to be commended for the great job he has done at the cemetary. He is always helpful when I need anything. Thank you Jim.
Posted by: Greg and Velma Campbell on 2/6/2012