Östra kyrkogården

Östra kyrkogården is located in the heart of Jönköping, adjacent to Liljeholmsparken. The cemetery dates back to the 17th century and has been expanded several times over the years. When it was originally established in the early 1600s, it was situated well outside the city limits, but today it is enclosed by the city on all sides.

The cemetery lies across two elevations – the older western section sits on a natural rise, while the newer sections are laid out on an artificial embankment to the east. The cemetery comprises several areas, each with its own distinct character, reflecting the ideals of the eras in which they were established or extended.

Due to the city and the railway having grown alongside the cemetery, it has taken on a long and irregular shape.

The main entrance features four tall granite pillars with chamfered edges, topped with gables and fitted with cast Neo-Gothic gates. These were manufactured in 1875 at Jönköpings Mekaniska Verkstad and are the oldest preserved cast-iron gates in the city.

Cemeteries located outside city centres and not directly connected to a church were typically established around the early 19th century. At that time, burials within city walls were prohibited, and existing churchyards were often overcrowded. Östra kyrkogården is notable in that it is significantly older. When Kristine Church was built after the city fire of 1612, it was already known that a graveyard could not be established adjacent to the church due to the high groundwater level. Instead, land was purchased just outside the city, directly alongside the main road towards Eksjö.

Östra Chapel

The chapel at Östra kyrkogården was designed by city architect Göran Pauli and built on the same site as the older chapel that burned down in 1935. The new chapel is smaller than the original and corresponds roughly to the central square of the former building.

Inside, the chapel reflects a kind of Baroque Classicism: the ceiling is painted in a rich blue, adorned with painted consoles and shadowing effects.

Next to the chapel stands a true gem that highlights the cemetery’s age – a 400-year-old oak tree.

Notable burials

John and Ester Bauer – Famed artist and illustrator John Bauer, along with his wife Ester and their son Bengt, perished in the sinking of the steamship Per Brahe on Lake Vättern on 20 November 1918. Their burial took place on 18 August 1922, nearly four years later. Section 04, no. 06.

Ulrika Stenberg (née Colliander) – A damask weaver and perhaps the most successful female entrepreneur in Jönköping’s history. She ran a weaving business employing up to eighteen people in the early 1800s. She received awards for her skill in 1819 and at Stockholm’s industrial exhibitions in 1834 and 1840. Her works were also exhibited in Paris and London in the 1850s. Section 07, nos. 147–151.

Gustaf Lundin – Printer. His grave is uniquely angled. Section 08, nos. 85–88.

Johan Höckert – History painter, represented at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. Section 09, nos. 217–219, 237–239.

Gustav Engstrand – A doctor who was known for caring for the poor in the eastern parts of the city. He would often return home in just his cuffs and collar, having used his shirt as bandages. His grave is enclosed by a Jugend-style iron fence with torches and funeral flowers, made by Motala Verkstad. Section 09, nos. 243–244, 261–262.

Vera Nilsson – Artist, with works in both the Nationalmuseum and Moderna Museet. She played a key role in introducing public art to the Stockholm metro system in 1955. Section 10, nos. 40–42.

Hjalmar Elworth – Military engineer and railway director. His tall diabase obelisk was erected by colleagues from the Swedish State Railways. Section 11, no. 91.

Johan Edvard Lundström – Industrialist and inventor. He co-founded Jönköping’s matchstick factory with his brother Carl Frans. Section 11, nos. 41–48.

Aurore Storckenfeldt – Educator and school founder. In 1847, she established Storckenfeldt School in Jönköping, which included a boarding house for 20 girls and gained a national reputation.

Soldiers from the A6 Regiment – Victims of the Spanish flu epidemic around 1918. Section 35.

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