CRMEA Report June/July 2018

CEDAR MEMORIAL:
DRIVING INDUSTRY
INNOVATION
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
MEMBERSHIP
Founder Carl K. Linge first opened Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery
in Cedar Rapids almost 90 years ago in 1929. He had a vision for a
new kind of cemetery called a “park plan” that would be a place of
beauty and feature enduring bronze memorials set flush with the
ground. Decades later, Cedar Memorial continues to leave a lasting,
positive impact on families of lost loved ones and the greater
community. Julie Freese, Senior Certified Celebrant, sat down to
share more on the three-generation family business.
How is Cedar Memorial a leader in the
death care industry?
Even though funerals are, of course, for the person that has passed
away, they’re really for those who go on without their loved one.
From day one, we’ve anticipated family’s needs to serve them in the
best way possible. Since our founding, we’ve driven innovation in
our industry.
We opened the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in 1965,
the first combination cemetery and funeral home in the state of
Iowa. As more people began to choose cremation, we opened the
Cedar Cremation Center in 1999. It is surrounded by the Garden
of Reflection, which offers eight cremation inurnment options in a
natural setting. The Cedar Cremation Center is also home to Iowa
Cremation, founded by current President & CEO C. John Linge in
2000, which offers simple, dignified and affordable cremation
across the state of Iowa.
Pets are truly part of the family, which is why we started
Companions for Life in 2010. We offer pet cremation services when
it’s time to say goodbye to a loving, furry friend.
How is Cedar Memorial involved in the
community?
Our founder Carl K. Linge once said, “If a cemetery is to be
successful permanently, it must build itself into the lives of the
people in the community.” We give back to the community in
many ways, within and outside of our industry. To name a couple
within our industry, we have an annual Hospite program that
is a respite for professional Hospice caregivers and we sponsor
the GriefLine, a 24-hour telephone grief counseling service by
trained, compassionate counselors. As a small business, we are
a major contributor to the United Way. Cedar Memorial funeral
home founder, David Linge, and his wife Audrey Linge, donated
the building that now houses Theatre Cedar Rapids. In fact, the
theatre’s lounge is named the Linge Lounge after the Linge family.
To learn more about Cedar Memorial on their website,
www.cedarmemorial.com.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
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