Cemetery gardens in Coon Rapids

Established in 1963, Morningside Memorial Gardens is a beautiful cemetery with 10 different gardens. Lawn-level markers occupy most of the cemetery, with the Garden of Oaklawn set aside for families who wish to honor loved ones with upright monuments.

We know the challenges you face after losing a loved one and offer several areas for specific needs. Babyland is reserved for the burial of infants and toddlers. Field of Honor and Garden of Freedom both honor veterans. The gardens of Serenity and Devotion offer traditional burial spaces with installed concrete vaults. Other gardens at Morningside Memorial Gardens are suited for traditional burial or cremation burial.

Our mausoleum, niches

 For those who prefer above-ground burials, our Coon Rapids cemetery is home to the prestigious Mausoleum of Angels. This lovely all-granite building has crypts and niches, protecting both caskets and cremation urns. The Garden of Serenity also has single and double cremation niches. Additionally, we have private estates for family entombment and offer private monuments for family cremation.

Chapel service options

The Adelaide Robinson Memorial Chapel is available for small committal services with 20-25 attendees.

We honor veterans

At Morningside Memorial Gardens, we understand the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families. As a Level Three Founding Community Partner with We Honor Veterans, our staff is knowledgeable in the benefits available to veterans and their families. With respect, integrity and dignity, we will walk you through the steps of creating a veteran's memorial service that truly honors the life and sacrifice of your loved one.

Each year, Morningside Memorial Gardens hosts the Anoka County Veterans Council’s Memorial event. On behalf of the Anoka County Veterans Council, an invitation is extended to the public to join us on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Before the event, Boy Scouts from the community place more than 700 flags on our veterans' graves.

The Nightingale Tribute

Presented by the Nurses Honor Guard, The Nightingale Tribute pays homage to any registered nurse or licensed practical nurse for their years of service. For many, nursing is a calling and a way of life. It is a profession that cannot be lived in isolation and one in which nurses rely on each other for the synergistic effect of teamwork in all efforts of care giving. It is for these reasons that we honor nurses at the end of life’s journey with a special tribute.

Local care you can trust

Our cemetery co-sponsors an annual luminary service in December at Gearhart Funeral Home in Coon Rapids. This is a time for families to honor loved ones who have passed. We also support the Boy Scouts of America, Wishes and More, American Diabetes Association and Toys for Joy in Anoka County.

For more than 50 years, Morningside Memorial Gardens has helped families create lasting tributes that provide peace to friends and family. We're honored to serve and grow with our community and are here for you. Please contact us for information about our burial and cremation services in Coon Rapids or to set up a guided tour of our beautiful cemetery.

History

Morningside Memorial Gardens cemetery and mausoleum in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was established in 1963. The 1st burial took place in 1964, and there have been approximately 5,000 burials since.

The memorial park began as a 10-acre cemetery. The 1st garden developed was the Garden of Faith, devoted to those with religious affiliations. A special section, Field of Honor, was added in 1968. This section was dedicated to veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty. We added a granite wall honoring all branches of the armed forces in 1972.

Also in 1972, came the addition of Babyland, which can be identified by the brass sculpture of a little boy and baby lamb located on the garden’s edge. We grew to serve more families, and the Adelaide Robinson Memorial Chapel was constructed in 1973. The chapel was donated to the cemetery by Adelaide Robinson in honor of her late husband, Guy.

By 1976, the gardens of Memory Lawn and Liberty had been built. The Garden of Liberty can be recognized by a replica of the Liberty Bell that sits in the heart of the garden.

Expanding with the community

The city of Coon Rapids gave approval for expansion of Morningside Memorial Gardens in 1977, and in 1978, excavation began to install concrete vaults in the Garden of Serenity. This expansion was followed by the addition of Garden of Freedom—which serves veterans—and the gardens of Peace and Tranquility.

A full-service office building was built in 1983 and remodeled in 1998. Also in 1998, we completed construction of the Mausoleum of Angels, which allows for above-ground entombment and interment. The final garden to join our cemetery grounds was the Garden of Oak Lawn, a lovely garden for upright monuments.

Cremation options

When cremation became popular in the 1990s, we installed cremation wall niches at Morningside Memorial Gardens. The 1st of our columbaria was installed on our Garden of Serenity Island. In 2008, we installed a private estate, a 2-person mausoleum available to families interested in more privacy and personalization. We continue to add to our Gardens of Serenity Island, and as of 2017, have placed our 5th columbarium.

As we have grown to meet the needs of our community, our dedication to service remains unchanged. We hope to continue our legacy of helping families in Coon Rapids with their cemetery needs.