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In the late 1880's a number of German-Russian immigrants settled in the area of Eastern Colorado just south of the Republican River along the Launchman Creek.  The families build a small rock church and buried their dead in a small plot of land just north of the church.

Today, the only physical evidence of this church is a scattering of rock ruble and a hand full of grave markers in the cemetery.  In the late 1990's, locals organized several "cleaning groups" and reestablished interested in the cemetery.
 

Grandpa Chris Kramer once told a story about a married that took place at this church. For some reason, the couple didn't want to be married in Kit Carson County, so at the point in the Sunday service when the couple was to be married, the pastor, the couple, and the congregation walked across the road, the marriage took place, everyone returned to the church and the service was concluded. Another story indicated a more rational reason for this wedding across the road. The marriage license was for Kit Carson County, the church was in Yuma County. To be wed on that date, they need to have the service in Kit Carson County. Thus the wedding across the road. (This may have been the wedding of a Bauder.)

The cemetery is located just south west of Bonny Reservoir on the Kit Carson County and Yuma County line -- Road RR.  (Actually, the Cemetery is in Yuma County and the old church was in Kit Carson County.)

Location of the old Launchman Church and Cemetery Site:

• Printable Location Map

• Survey Map with route  (1117 KB)

• Satellite Map (landmarks noted)
         Detail Image of the Cemetery Site
         Satellite Map (without notations)
         Satellite Map Via TerraServer

• Launchman Church Cemetery
  SE Corner of Section 34 Township 5S Range 44W
  Yuma County, Colorado
  Yuma County 1922 Plat Map     [Map Image ]
  

• Launchman Cemetery Survey  taken from History of Evangelical Lutheran Church History prepared by Burdine RICHARDS Homm Fall 1999

List of those known buried at the
Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
taken from
History of Evangelical Lutheran Church History
prepared by Burdine RICHARDS Homm Fall 1999

• George Boden 1889
• Willie Lange 1890
• Getrude Lundvall 1904
• Tillie Fanselau 1893
• Howard Yount 1895
• Fredrick (Fritz) Hedding 1896
• Herman Homm 1896
• Boden Eliso 1899
• Enno Boden 1899
• Dictrick Lange 1899
• Herman Boden 1899
• Dictrick Lange 1901
• Christof Wall 1902
• Mary Stump 1903
• Gottlick Bauder 1904
• Christian Gutting 1908
• Gustaf Wall   1898
• Andrew Bauder
• Gottlieb Bauder 1898
• Walter Yount  1899

Also known as the Spring Valley Cemetery and the Landsman Cemetery. Located near Landsman north of the Kit Carson County line and a mile and a half west of US 385. The cemetery was established in 1888 and the last of the twenty known burials was in 1908.

area was once in Arapaho County, before it was divided into Yuma County