Mulder Family
The Mulder Family Cemetery, a modern small private cemetery commemorates the farming spirit of this family in north central La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Called Hillcrest Farm, it was first owned by Fred & Grace Mulder in 1916. Leland E. Mulder was born in 1925 to the couple and eventually farmed the family farm.
The cemetery has only two occupants: Leland & Lorna Mulder, a couple who married in 1953. The small site is surrounded by a chain link fence and is located in the front yard of the old brick farmhouse.
Leland married Lorna Barclay in 1953, and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1965 at the age of 40. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly and served from 1958-1960. Leland was also involved in the the Wisconsin State ASCS Committee, serving as chair from 1962-1969. He then began working for the Wisconsin Farmer's Union, eventually becoming state president in 1979. He served several terms as third district chair of the Democratic Party and was a candidate for U. S. Congress in 1986. Leland also became director of the Wisconsin Farmer's Union Job Training Program and was a representative to the North Central Regional Education Laboratory. He died in 1993.
| A stone epitaph recites the poem "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson: |
| Under the wide and starry sky Dig the grave and let me lie. Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will. This is the verse you grave for me: "Here he lies where he longed to be, Home is the sailor, home from the sea. And the hunter home from the hill." "Requiem" R. L. S. |
Leland's wife, Lorna, was also not one to stay at home. She was born in 1930 to Harold and Anna Barclay. She received a bachelor's degree in home economics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1951. She taught for two years in Shawano, Wisconsin, and for 35 years in Holmen before her retirement. She was active in Wisconsin Education Association Council and National Education Association. In 1970, she served as president of the Western Wisconsin Education Association. Lorna was active in the Future Homemakers of America and served as advisor and was made an honorary member.
Lorna was involved in the Lewis Valley Homemakers and La Crosse County Homemakers associations. She too was active in the state and La Crosse County Democratic Party. She organized the FHA volunteers at the American Legion Post 280's Korn Fest for 15 years. In May 1989, she was honored with the Holmen Middle School Teacher of the Year Award, and State Superintendent Herbert Grover presented her with the Award of Excellence.
The bronze plaque at the burial site says the following:
| "In the Midst of Death Comes the Gift of Life" HILLCREST FARM Fred & Grace Mulder Family Since 1916 | |
| Lorna Mar. 28, 1930 Sept. 26, 1989 | Leland Jun. 9, 1925 Jan. 1, 1993 |
| MULDER Parents of Mark Lee and Dirk De | |
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