The St. John the Baptist community in Johnsburg will commemorate their sesquicentennial of their parish with a Walk through the Cemetery Saturday, July 11 at 1 p.m. The stroll will provide an opportunity for newcomers and long term residents, family and friends alike to learn about the people who shaped Johnsburg’s history.

The honored personalities represent the German, Irish and Luxembourg nationalities that settled in the rural area around Johnsburg. These engaging characters will describe the antics en route to the Minnesota prairie. The cast characters include: Peter Bissen, an inventor, originally from Luxembourg; Chrysant and Magdalena Mullenbach from Hamburg, Germany; Franz and Theresia Schmid (Smith ) from the Eifel area of Germany; and John Freund, local store owner.

Irishwoman’s Katherine Meehan Gerhart’s story will bring smiles to your face, as well as PFC Richard Matheis, a Vietnam veteran. Many relatives of these personalities continue to reside in the community and assisted in the gathering of information to bring their “story to life.” Participants will begin in the church, walk to the gravesites and finish with “school stories” in the former school building now the community center.

Some chairs will be provided but you are welcome to bring a lawn chair.