Caption with photo: August H. Luhman, sexton of a Muskegon cemetery, who tells of digging 10,000 graves in the 31 years he has served the public.

Headline: 72, He Keeps Cheerful and Enjoys Work

Shovel of August H. Luhman has covered both wealthy and humble during his service as Sexton.

By J. G. MacCormack
Muskegon, Oct. 3, 1926*

August F**. Luhman, dean of Muskegon sextons, estimates he has dug 10,000 graves in which rest the dust of great and humble dead of this city.

It has been a busy and enjoyable work, relates this man who has stood by at thousands of cemetery services to await departure of morners and his part in the finale of mortals.

Modestly he told of his work and interestingly of what he has observed.

“The carefree and happy-go-lucky spirit that prevails these days ends only at the grave,” he said. “The cemetery still holds its popularity with rich and poor. More visit the graveyards of Muskegon today than ever before, which I believe indicates there is as much respect for the dead in America today as there was 30 years ago.

European Customs.

“Funeral processions also are as well attended today as toward the end of the 18th century, when I began this work. In one respect only has the number fallen, being in the attendance of fraternal groups at the services of departed members.”

Mr. Luhman, who is 72, was born in Germany, coming to this country when 20.

He referred to the graveyards of the Old World, stating he considered them far more neglected than in America.

“In the larger cities even the most wealthy look to the upkeep of their graves, but in this country, villages and townships, as well as cities, have taken up the task of keeping the cemeteries places of beauty.”

Modest, quiet and faithful, Luhman has served this community 31 years. A bare half of his time has been spent in the making and filling of graves, the other half to beautifying the graves and lots of the Lakeside cemetery of which he is now in charge.

Interest Is Wide

“I began my work as a sexton on account of failing health. I expected to return to the shops when I recovered my health, but the outdoor work and my interest in the upkeep of graves led me to continue the work. I hope to remain here now until another does for me what I have done for thousands,” he said.

His interest extends to each grave. There are 7,000 at the Lakeside cemetery and nearly every one there he remembers by name. He feels he has more friends in the cemetery at Lakeside than he has living. Then there are four members of his own family and beside the graves he has selected for his own place of final rest.

Backs Sunday Law

He begins his work at 7 in the morning and seldom finishes before 5 o’clock in the afternoon. On Sunday he visits the cemetery. He commended the city ordinance prohibiting burial on Sunday, stating there was a time when Sunday was the sexton’s work day with an average of three graves to be filled.

With the beginning of autumn the work of the sexton increases, whereas through the summer months he believes the death rate drops nearly 60 per cent.

*August died June 5, 1926. Was this article written after his death, or is the date of the paper wrong, possibly 1925? Or was he really only 71 and they 'rounded it up' to 72? Also, another article says he came to the US when he was 22, not 20.

** Typo! His initial was actual H.