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Keeping Pleasant Grove beautiful

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The interest earned on Pleasant Grove Cemetery’s perpetual care fund has decreased, lessening the amount of money the cemetery association has to put toward maintenance. They’re hoping community support, either through donations or volunteerism, could help ease the burden. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Support needed for maintenance costs

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

McGregor’s Pleasant Grove Cemetery is one of the community’s most picturesque and hallowed spots. With panoramic views of the Mississippi River valley and dozens of stately trees that offer shade and solitude in the summer heat and vibrant yellow hues in the fall, it’s a beautiful final resting place for hundreds of former residents. However, maintaining the cemetery’s beauty has become more difficult, and costly.

“The interest earned on perpetual care has decreased, so we’re not earning as much for maintenance,” explained Deborah Scott, with the Pleasant Grove Cemetery Association. Expenses have been exceeding income.

Without some additional support from the community, the cemetery association will find it difficult to purchase new equipment, such as a lawn tractor, Scott said. Funds are also needed for repairs to the maintenance shed, grave digging, road rock, labor and more. Some fencing needs to be updated or repaired, Scott added.

Maintaining Pleasant Grove is no small task. There are 9 to 9.5 acres that require mowing, Scott said. Not to mention the trimming that needs to be completed around the gravestones and trees.

“It takes a minimum one to two days to get the mowing and trimming done,” she said.

Scott assured upkeep of the cemetery would continue regardless of whether donations are received or not. Work just might take longer.

Much of that work now falls on Bob Bedker, who took over maintenance duties from Bob Eggen. 

Scott said a fundraiser has  been considered, which she noted may highlight the history of Pleasant Grove Cemetery and some of the people buried there. Notable residents include famed sand artist Andrew Clemens and Iowa congressman Thomas Updegraff.

Any help is appreciated, whether monetarily or through volunteerism, Scott said.

“We just want it to look pretty for anyone who has a loved one up there,” she remarked.

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