BELOIT, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Monday marked the 107th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and a Rock County cemetery took time to honor the life of one man who died as that vessel went down.  

Albert Wirz’s body is buried in Oakwood Cemetery after his remains were found near the wreckage of the unsinkable ship.

"He was on his life preserver, he was identified all the information on him, passports, insurance papers, watches things that he had on his person," Oakwood Cemetery Historian John Kalkirtz said.  

The 27-year-old Swedish farmer was bound for Beloit.  His fellow third-class Swiss bunkmate Joseph Arnold and his wife Josephine were traveling to New Glarus.

"They had a one-year-old baby and they left the baby with Joseph’s parents,’ Fellow Historian," Janet Wagner said.  Her grandfather was close friends with the Arnold family.  Tragically, she says their bodies were never recovered.  

It’s why Wagner enjoys what Oakwood Cemetery does to honor the Titanic victims. "It gives me a sense of my background when I walk over there," she said.

Wagner is referring to the plot where a special life preserver marker is placed above Wirz’s grave.  

The memorial marker was created four years ago, but the harsh winters forced it to be repaired this year; however, the cemetery wanted it restored for the anniversary.

"He [Wirz] has a marker that you can see above the ground, rather than on the ground, so he is one of the easier ones to find," Kalkirtz said.

There are two other people who died aboard the Titanic and their bodies are buried in Wisconsin Cemeteries.  These graves are found in Green Bay and Fond Du Lac.