About our Recent Name Change

In Spring 2022, we began doing business as “Open Gate Cemetery” in response to changing demographics in the Osseo/Maple Grove area. “Open Gate” supports our mission to be welcoming to families of all faiths, or no formal faith associations.

History

The Freie Gemeinde (German for “Free Community” or “Free Thinkers”) Cemetery was established in 1868. 2018 marked our 150th Anniversary of serving the Osseo-Maple Grove area. The first burial was in 1868. The Freien Gemeinden– the “Free Thinkers” – were small groups of men scattered around Minnesota who considered themselves “the friends of truth, uprightness, and honesty.” They weren’t against established religions, but argued against the strict adherence to theological dogma common in the 1800’s in Germany.

The Osseo chapter of the Freie Genmeinde purchased the original land from Osseo resident Peter La Valle. Additional land was later donated by Rudolph Niggler.

In 1918, the name of the cemetery was changed from “Freie Gemeinde Cemetery” to “Niggler Cemetery” to recognize Niggler’s generous land donation.

The name was changed again in 2022 to Open Gate Cemetery.

Location

The cemetery is located at 125 West Broadway in the southwest corner of Osseo. It can be difficult to find – it’s within a grove of old trees providing a serene, respectful resting place for just a stone’s throw away from the everyday business of the thriving Osseo-Maple Grove suburbs.

Management

The cemetery is owned and managed by the Niggler Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization with 501(c)(13) tax status.

The Niggler Cemetery Association is comprised of volunteers meets annually on the third Saturday of September. All interested parties, especially family members or decendents of persons interred in our cemetery, are welcome to attend and participate.

The Executive Board of the Association is comprised of five unpaid volunteers. The committee meets formally twice a year, in March and September.