Taking Pride in Green Ridge Cemetery

GRC Director Peter Shaw Johnson

Peter is connected to Kenosha and its history. He is a sixth generation resident of Kenosha County whose family first settled in Bristol Township in 1837. Born and raised in the city of Kenosha, Johnson taught at Lance Junior High School and Tremper High School, utilizing his degrees in social sciences and history and serving as a high school swimming coach. He has served on the Southern Lakes Credit Union Board of Directors since 1977. His board memberships have also included the Christian Youth Council, the Lakeshore Counties of the American Red Cross, and serving on the City of Kenosha Historical Sites Commission.

He has been a member of the National Society of Mayflower Descendants since 1971. He holds membership in the numerous masonic organizations such as Lodge #47, York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite and Tripoli Shrine. A long time and active member of the Kenosha Education Association, Wisconsin Education Association and the National Education Association He has held a Life Membership in the Kenosha County Historical Society since 1974. Needless to say, he has a keen interest in local history.

Executive Assistant Ellen Kupfer

Ellen Kupfer began working part-time in our office in February 2024 as the Executive Assistant to the General Manager. She has since added the title of Special Projects Coordinator. As the Coordinator she has taken on the accreditation of our cemetery as an arboretum. A number of other events that are coming up such as an Arbor Day Event, the Memorial Day commemoration held in conjunction with the American Legion Post 21 and several other events currently in development fall under her job description.

Ellen is a native Kenoshan who graduated from St. Joseph High School, Carthage College and UW Milwaukee Graduate School of Social Work. She has worked at Brookside Care, Center Developmental Disabilities and St. Catherine’s Hospital as a Social Worker. After spending 25 years as a school social worker and Dean of Students at Tremper High School, she semi-retired and became the Director of Religious Education at First United Methodist Church. While employed there, she began one of the city’s first Grief Share programs to assist individuals coping with the loss of a loved one. “That experience, combined with my social work and counselling background, has given me insights in how to interact with grieving people and help them cope with their loss. Something I use each time I am in the office,” Ellen stated.

Ellen has been a welcome addition to our staff at the cemetery.

Our Grounds Crew and Gardener

Green Ridge Cemetery’s devoted maintenance staff consider the cemetery an extension of themselves, taking pride in keeping the grounds beautiful. We are so fortunate to have an experienced grounds crew and our part time gardener who take great pride in maintaining our beautiful grounds. They work hard to ensure the landscape does justice to the memories of the individuals resting in the Green Ridge Cemetery.