Preserve our Iowa Pioneer Cemeteries

 

Dear Fred in Woodbury County,

Your response to Fred in Crawford County was forwarded to me by a friend. I'm so pleased that you are working to preserve neglected cemeteries that are so much a part of our heritage.

You might be interested to know that there is a state association with which you can work to attain your goals:

The State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries (SAPIC) Iowa Genealogical Society, Box 7735, Des Moines, IA, ZIP: 50322-7735

The repeal of the bill that allows township trustees to declare a burial site abandoned; (among others) is one of our goals, also.; We were pleased that Representative Barry Brauns of Muscatine County and Senator Andy McKean of Jones County sponsored the bills during the last legislative session that allows descendants to access a cemetery and also makes sellers of land declare a burial site on the Ground Water Hazard Statement.  The bills passed both houses unanimously, so we are grateful to Senator Redwine for his vote.

SAPIC strives to hold at least one of its quarterly meetings in western Iowa.  In July, 1998, the meeting was held in Woodbury County hosted by the Woodbury County Genealogical Society.  In July, 1999, it was held in Page County.  The IA GenWeb calendar page announces the location and dates of SAPIC's meetings.

Pat Shaw, President

State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries

NOTE: I encourage all volunteers in IaGenWeb to support the saving and maintenance of pioneer cemeteries.

Don Kelly, SC, IowaGenWeb