Cemetery

Oakwood and Forest Hill Cemeteries

The Oakwood Cemetery Association established Oakwood Cemetery in 1856. A few years later the Cemetery was given to the Township of Anoka. Although there have been very few interments in Oakwood since the 1950s, this sacred place is rich with a wonderful past of city residents and war veterans.  Graves are no longer available for purchase in Oakwood Cemetery.  

Forest Hill Cemetery was established in 1890. It is a non-denominational, public cemetery.  Section 0 (Blocks A - Z) makes up the original cemetery with Sections 1 - 6 added over the past 100 years. There are many single graves available for sale in the lettered blocks, but currently, the majority of the sales occur in section 6 block 5.  

Records

Records for both cemeteries are located in the Public Services Office, lower level of City Hall, located at:
2015 1st Avenue
Anoka, MN 55303

For specific locations of loved ones please try searching the database for each cemetery location below or feel free to call or email Public Services Department. 

Forest Hill Cemetery Index

Oakwood Cemetery Index

Please make an appointment to meet with the Cemetery Administrator if you are interested in purchasing graves. 

Landscape Policy Reminders...

Please remove tattered decorations, discolored/faded silk plants/flowers, dead plants and all other items that are considered to be non-conforming with the landscape policy from Forest Hill/Oakwood Cemeteries. Balloons, stuffed animals, tinsel, windchimes, toys and all other items that do not resemble plant life are non-conforming to cemetery policies.  

Each grave is allowed one pot stand. All potted plants (real or fake)  should be placed on a pot stand. Shepard hooks with hanging plants are not allowed. Solar lights can be placed in the pot on the pot stand and should not be stuck in the ground.  

Items placed directly on the ground will be  removed prior to  the start of winter and spring maintenance season. The city is not responsible for items placed on the ground. It is unfortunate, but sometimes items are  lost, stolen or broken.  Forest Hill Cemetery provides burial services year round,  and in winter, requires snow removal to provide access near gravesites for burial preparations and graveside services. Items laying on the ground under the snow cover are at risk of being damaged during these processes. Family members are encouraged to bring memorabilia home.  Alcoholic beverage containers will be removed immediately. 

Pot Stands can be purchased from lawn/garden centers like Plants & Things, Green Valley Nursery, Gertens Garden Center, etc.  

City crews will clean the cemetery and remove items  during the months of April and November each year. 

To receive email or text notifications of semi-annual clean up activities, rule changes, policy enforcement activities, or other general important news for lot owners or love ones please sign up for  Notify Me - Cemetery Info  

Ash Tree Removal - Emerald Ash Borer

Forest Hill Cemetery has a significant number of ash trees that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer beetle and must be removed.  In the fall of 2024, 35 trees were removed and 35 trees were planted.  An additional 65 trees were removed in December 2025. Remaining ash trees are being treated, monitored, and will be removed if necessary. The city will be planting 65 trees in the spring of 2026 to replace the trees that were removed. 

The City of Anoka received a grant from the MN Department of Natural Resources to help mitigate the impacts of EAB, diseased trees, or hazardous trees in the community. For each tree removed with grant funds, a replacement tree must be planted. This project is being conducted in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.