Families distraught after personal items removed from graves at Hartland cemetery

 

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Outrage in Waukesha County after personal items were removed from gravesites at a Hartland cemetery. The cemetery's owner says they tried to reach families by email, but families we talked to say they had no warning.

Days after frustrated lot owners tell us they learned their treasures were tossed into a pile like junk, what remains has been very neatly placed.

"Yeah, it's painful and it hurts a lot. It's, it's gone, so..." said Wendy Mueller, family member.

Distraught families returned to Gardens of StoneBank Tuesday, sifting through discarded wreath stands, crosses and personalized stones, but items the cemetery owner intended to be found here, aren't all here.

"A guardian angel. It had real feathers on it. It was a solar light I stuck in there. I went through everything that was laid out on the ground. I could not find it and it's something that really means a lot to me," said Mueller.

Wendy Mueller's daughter was 18 when she died in 2005.

"Most cemeteries seem to have clearly defined posted rules at the entrance or near the entrance," said Robert Mueller, family member.

The Muellers say they had no idea the cemetery's owner, The Tribute Companies, forbids these items during spring and summer.

"Our lot owners see that other people are putting out items that we don't really allow. It got to a point where we had to just enforce the guidelines that have been placed since we purchased the cemetery," said Chrstine Toson, owner, The Tribute Companies.

The Tribute Companies owns four cemeteries in Wisconsin and their website does list their rules and regulations.

"Our basic policy is that everything needs to be off of the ground so that our crew can come through with lawn mowers and string trimmers and not be in harm's way," said Toson.

American flags flying alongside veterans' graves are about the only thing left out here now. Even shepherd hooks with about the same diameter had to go.

"It does get in the way, but they will be replaced by the VFW as well, whereas shepherd hooks, they don't get replaced and we can't be responsible for them," said Toson.

Christine Toson notified families via email and Facebook and admits The Tribute Companies could've communicated better on this one. She urges lot owners to be sure their emails have been updated with their office.

"At any point in time, if they ask us to mail them items, we certainly will," said Toson.

Families have about another eight days to claim their belongings. The Tribute Companies plans to throw away what's left out here after Aug. 14.