My name is Bob Siler and I'd like to welcome you to the Wrestling Grave Yard. This is the place where you can come and pay your respects to the men and women, both in the ring and behind the scenes, who made professional wrestling what it is today. For those of you who think that professional wrestling began with Vincent McMahon Jr. and Hulk Hogan, then you need to bruch up on your wrestling history. Without William Muldoon, Ed "Strangler" Lewis or Joe Stecher or Gorgeous George, (the wrestler, not the porn star / Randy Savage valet), there would be no Hulk Hogan.
Several years ago I was hunting around the Internet trying to find anything about where professional wrestlers were buried. I found sites for the grave locations of celebrities, baseball players, boxers, singers and poets, but nothing for the ring legends that have passed on. So, I started putting this list together and I continue to add to it whenever I find new. Back then, even Find A Grave didn't have any wrestlers listed except Gorgeous George. They have since added a handful.
Trying to find the grave locations of professional wrestlers isn't an easy thing to do since most grapplers are buried under their real names. I'd like to tell you about one great mat legend that I'd been looking for for about six years and just recently found, Joe Stecher. I read everything I could find on him, but all I could find was that he died in the St. Cloud, Minnesota Veteran's Hospital. So, I called them up, got ahold of the records department and asked them. According to their records, he had been sent to San Francisco, where he had lived and where his wife was still living, for burial. Well, I called a few San Francisco cemeteries and was told he wasn't there. A few years later I wrote to the Wrestling Classics Message Board and asked if anyone knew where he was buried. I was told to check his hometown of Dodge, Nebraska, which I did.
His parents and relatives are there but not Joe. Finally, about five months ago I wrote to a library in St. Cloud. They sent me the obituary that mentioned the funeral home in charge. I next wrote to them and a few weeks later my search came to an end. It takes time and patience being a wrestling grave hunter.
I'd like acknowledge some of the people who have helped me in one way or another. First and foremost I'd like to thank Tim Hornbaker for giving The Wrestling Grave Yard a home. Without him it would be collecting dust in a notebook. J. Michael Kenyon of the Wrestling As We Like It Papers; Scott Teal; the historians at the Wrestling Classic Message Board, especially Steve Yohe, Crimson Mask and Old Fall Guy. They shared information and taught me a few things about research and writing. Last but not least I'd like to thank Miss Hildy. Miss Hildy has written many of the wrestling biographies at Find A Grave, which is how I met her. She had wanted to create a site on where wrestlers are buried. A few people promised to help her, (which they didn't), and I lent her all my grave photos, which she took great care of and returned to me when it all fell through. She has been a great help. I'm sorry if I forgot anyone. It wasn't intentional.
So, come on in and check us out. If you have any comments, good or bad, I'd love to read them. If you have any corrections and locations you would like to add, then please do so. You will be credited for your information. E-mail me at Burbank3000@aol.com
Bob
This is dedicated to the men and women who have gone to the big wrestling promotion
Wrestling Gravesites and Information:
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*The gravesites are sorted by last name's initial. Please click on the above links to learn more.
