It is a little ironic that the one guarantee in life, besides taxes as they say, is something most of us shy away from talking about. That silence gives death a kind of power it does not deserve, especially when planning ahead is simply choosing the path we want after we are gone and what we want for those who remain behind, missing and remembering us. Those conversations can help loved ones avoid hard decisions at a time when they are already carrying the weight of loss.
For Jon and Beth Luikart, that planning led them to a columbarium, an option they realized did not yet exist in their community. During estate planning, they had talked through the details of what they wanted for themselves and for each other. Jon had always assumed he would be buried. Beth had always assumed she would be cremated.
“After being married over 50 years, I finally said I might as well get cremated too,” Jon said.
Once they agreed on cremation, the next question was where they would go. Palmer’s Lakeview Cemetery, the century-old cemetery that serves Duluth Township and its surrounding neighborhoods, offered only in-ground burials for both traditional burials and cremated remains.
The Luikarts began looking at options and realized that a columbarium offered a dignified, permanent resting place that was easy to find, easy to visit, and respectful in its simplicity.
As they researched further, they learned that cremation is far more common in this region than they expected. Roughly 77 percent of deaths in the area are handled through cremation, significantly higher than the statewide average.
“When you think about people that are being cremated currently, the only option is to go into the ground, and not everybody wants that,” Jon said.
That realization made the absence of a columbarium feel like a gap in the choices available to local families.
They brought the idea to the township two years ago. The board was receptive but asked them to demonstrate both interest and funding before moving forward. The couple formed a task force and began hosting informational meetings. Attendance was small, but the response was overwhelmingly positive.
“Everybody says more people need to come to these meetings because it is so informative,” Beth said.
She noted that talking about end-of-life decisions can be uncomfortable for some people, which makes outreach more challenging.
“Some people don’t want to talk about it. Some do. It’s just kind of a weird topic,” Beth said.
Many residents were unfamiliar with the term columbarium, which added to the challenge of spreading the word. A columbarium is an above-ground granite structure that holds cremated remains in small compartments called niches, each marked with an engraved nameplate.
The proposal is straightforward. The columbarium would have 120 niches, each holding two urns. The purchase price includes both urns and the first engraving. The early sign-up cost is $1,600 for a double niche through October 31, 2026. After that, the price will be $2,000. Compared to other regional options, the pricing is notably competitive. A double niche at Calvary Cemetery in Duluth ranges from $2,850 to $3,050. Pine Hill Cemetery lists $2,400. Christ Lutheran in Glencoe is $3,950. Knife River Lutheran Church offers $2,200, but only to church members. Palmer’s Lakeview Cemetery would be open to anyone.
The Luikarts emphasize that the project will not cost taxpayers anything. The pre-sale covers the down payment and demonstrates community interest. The township would loan the remaining funds from its capital account and be repaid as niches are sold.
“It’s not like someone loses whatever money they put in,” Beth said. She added that the project will only move forward if enough people express interest, which is why early commitments matter.
The emotional reasons for a columbarium surfaced repeatedly in their conversations with neighbors. Some families have urns sitting in their homes because they are not sure what to do with them.
“There is a lot of remains that are sitting in a person’s home,” Jon said. “They may be on the shelf, they may be in the closet, they may be down in the basement.”
Others regret decisions made quickly during grief. One woman told the Luikarts that her mother’s ashes had been scattered in nature. She thought it was a beautiful idea at the time, but now wishes she had a place to visit.
“She felt so bad that she does not have a place where she can come and just sit and remember her mom,” Jon said.
Beth sees the columbarium as a way to give families a peaceful place to visit. Benches would surround the structure, and trees and shrubs would create a northwoods feel.
She believes the setting matters, especially in a cemetery that has served local families for more than a century. Palmer’s Lakeview Cemetery is the site of the annual Memorial Day service and has long been a place where generations of families return.
“It is a family neighborhood cemetery,” Beth said. “People have been buried for generations.”
She sees the columbarium as a natural extension of that history, stating, “It is just providing another option for people. It is not replacing anything they already do.”
The Luikarts hope to schedule another community meeting soon and are willing to meet with families individually.
“We want to be buried in the neighborhood that we love living in,” Beth said. “I think people just want to be with their neighbors.”
A columbarium presentation is planned for Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 PM at the Duluth Township Hall located on Homestead Road. Those interested in the columbarium proposal or the pre-sale but are unable to attend can contact Jon Luikart at 218.464.2625 or jluikart@outlook.com.
