Parks and Recreation

Cemeteries

The City of Fort Madison Parks, Recreation & Docks Department is the caretaker of the four cemeteries operated by the City of Fort Madison. The cemetery office is located at the Municipal Building, 811 Avenue E, Fort Madison. The telephone number is (319) 372-8917, extension 273. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays.

City Cemetery is located in the 1400 block between Avenues H and I and is the oldest and smallest of the cemeteries at 3.6 acres. The earliest known burial that is still marked is that of Gen. John Holly Knapp, the founder of the City of Fort Madison, who passed away on January 4, 1837. Other notable citizens interred at City Cemetery are Joseph Marcus Beck, a former judge and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa, and Clarissa Wilson, the daughter of Betsy Ross. The cemetery also is the resting place of citizens who's markers note their service in the Spanish War, Mexican War, Civil War and both World Wars.

Elmwood Cemetery is located in the 2100 block between Avenues L and M. Elmwood's first known burial with an existing marker was that of Jane S. Cowles in 1841. The 4.2 acre cemetery holds several members of the 16th Illinois Calvary who survived Andersonville prison.

Oakland Cemetery is located at 4025 Avenue O and is the largest of the City's cemeteries at 24.8 acres. Oakland is home to Soldier's Circle, where former and present City of Fort Madison residents who qualify as veterans under the Iowa Department of Veteran's Affairs requirements may be interred. A Memorial Day Service is held each year at Soldier's Circle followed 30 minutes later by a memorial service at the Veteran's Memorial in Riverview Park.

Sacred Heart Cemetery is located south of Highway 61 on 48th Street and is 13 acres in size. Sacred Heart was founded by Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was transferred to the City of Fort Madison in 1974.

Oakland and Sacred Heart are perpetual care cemeteries.

CEMETERY FEES AS OF JANUARY 1, 2010
Price of Spaces
Single Space $350
Deed filing fee $5

Vault Opening
Monday through Friday $400
Saturday $650
Holidays (permission must be given by Department Head) $800

Cremation Opening
Monday through Friday $250
Saturday $500
Holidays (permission must be given by Department Head) $800

Babyland (opening and lot or grave opening for infant in any other section)
Monday through Friday $150
Saturday $175
Holidays (permission must be given by Department Head) $200

Sunday burials are only by law or catastrophe as designated by the Mayor or City Council and are the same price as holidays.