Riverside Cemetery

Riverside Cemetery Join us for informal, fun, & educational discussions about cemetery history, wildlife, notable graves

09/03/2026

Friday Office Hours Update
Our office will be open on Friday, September 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding, and we hope everyone has a safe and restful weekend.

09/02/2026

As we get closer to fall cleanup, we want to thank everyone for helping us care for Riverside.

A reminder that all decorations must be removed by October 1st so our Grounds Staff can safely complete cleanup.

Once cleanup is finished, decorations may be placed back out starting October 8th.

We appreciate your cooperation and your care for the cemetery and the loved ones resting here.

09/02/2026

Feeding Our Waterfowl & New Vending Machines
We love seeing families enjoy the ducks, geese, fish, turtles, and our two swans at Riverside. To help keep our waterfowl healthy, we’re asking the community to please avoid feeding bread. Bread can cause health issues, wing deformities in young birds, and water pollution.

New Wildlife Feed Vending Machines
Our new vending machines will be available Wednesday, September 9th.
They will require a 25¢ coin for each use.

If you come to the office, we will gladly provide a quarter to anyone who needs one.
However, beginning January 1st, 2026, we will no longer be able to provide quarters — the machines will require the 25¢ payment at that time.

Each vend provides a large handful of feed (about a quarter cup or more), and all funds collected go directly toward keeping wildlife feed available for the community.

Why We Moved to Vending Machines
This decision was not easy. We originally relied on a community feed box, but the raccoon lock was not being used. As a result, raccoons were getting inside and dragging feed containers into both the lake and the cemetery. The vending machines allow us to continue offering safe, appropriate feed without constant cleanup and loss.

Thank you for helping us care for the wildlife that calls Riverside Cemetery home.

09/02/2026

For fall cleanup, yes — all items must be removed by October 1st, no matter where they are placed. This includes:

Decorations in tiles at the end of stones

Items placed on the ground anywhere around the marker

Items inside built‑in vases on the stone

Any decorations attached to or resting against the marker

During fall cleanup, we ask that everything be removed so Grounds Staff can safely complete leaf removal, mowing, trimming, and winter preparation.

Anything left after October 1st will be removed and disposed of by staff.

If you have any questions, please call the office at 641‑753‑7891

09/01/2026

**Facebook Post — October 1st Decoration Removal Reminder**

October 1st is approaching, and this is your reminder that **ALL decorations must be removed from markers by October 1st**.

This includes items on:
- Flat markers
- Upright monuments
- Mausoleum spaces
- Columbarium spaces

# # # **Important Notes**
- **Items left under the railing** at the Mausoleum or Columbarium will be removed and disposed of.
- **Railing vases will NOT be removed** — only items placed on the ground beneath the railing.
- **Items covering the entire interment lot** (such as large displays, full‑lot coverings, or decorations spread across the grass) **must also be removed**. These items interfere with mowing, trimming, leaf removal, and fall cleanup.

Any decorations **left after October 1st will be removed by Grounds Staff and disposed of**, so please make arrangements to remove items **before** the deadline.

Decorations may be **placed back out starting October 8th**.

We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but this process happens every year so our Grounds Staff can complete fall cleanup safely and efficiently. Clearing decorations allows us to manage leaves, mow, trim, and prepare the cemetery for the winter season.

Thank you for helping us keep Riverside Cemetery beautiful and well‑maintained.

If you have questions about decoration guidelines, please contact the office at **[641‑753‑7891](tel:6417537891)**.

---

If you want, I can also create a **shorter version**, a **graphic‑friendly version**, or a **final reminder post** for September 30.

09/01/2026

New Gate Closing Times Begin September 8th
Yes, it’s that time of year again! 🍂

Starting September 8th, Riverside Cemetery will begin our fall gate closing schedule. With the days getting darker earlier, we’re adjusting our hours to keep visitors safe and allow our grounds crew to finish end‑of‑day work before nightfall.

New Gate Closing Time
Gates will close at 7:00 p.m. daily beginning September 8th.

Thank you for your understanding as we shift into our fall hours. We appreciate everyone who visits, walks, photographs, and enjoys the grounds — and we’re looking forward to a beautiful autumn season at Riverside.

If you need assistance or have questions about visiting hours, please contact the office at 641‑753‑7891.

09/01/2026

Marker Cleaning Workshop This Saturday
Just a reminder that our Marker Cleaning Workshop is happening this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Riverside Cemetery Office.

This hands‑on class will cover:

Safe cleaners to use on stone

Brush types that work best

How to remove lichen and moss

Proper techniques for preserving inscriptions

We’ll be cleaning two stones during the workshop, so please wear chore clothes and comfortable shoes. The class will be held rain or shine.

09/01/2026

REMINDER: SEPT 30th is closing in:

It’s Time! Our 2nd Annual Riverside Cemetery Photo Contest Has Officially Begun!
We had a great turnout for our 1st Annual Photo Contest, and we are thrilled to kick off our 2nd year of celebrating the beauty and history of Riverside Cemetery through your photographs.
Our contest is open to all ages, and we welcome photographers of every skill level. Whether you’re capturing peaceful landscapes, historic monuments, or the quiet charm of nature, we can’t wait to see Riverside Cemetery through your eyes.
Photo Requirements
All photos must be taken within Riverside Cemetery
Images may be old or new
Please respect the privacy of others — no photos of services or individuals visiting graves
Photos must be 8.5 x 11.5 inches or smaller
Black & white or color photos are welcome
All submissions must be printed photographs
Submissions are limited to 3 photographs.
Prizes
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50
Contest Dates
Starts: January 1, 2026
Ends: September 30, 2026
All submitted photos will be displayed at the Riverside Cemetery Office, and the top 12 images will be featured in our annual Riverside Cemetery Calendar.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at 641‑753‑7891.
We’re excited to see your creativity shine once again.
The following photos from our Calenda

09/01/2026

New Vending Machines & Wildlife Feed Update 🦆🐢🦢
Our NEW VENDING MACHINES are in… and we are hoping to have them installed and food back out for the community starting this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that these machines behave themselves this time — lol.

We also want to say that we are truly sorry we haven’t been able to keep food in the Wildlife Feed Box. Because the lock wasn’t being used, our clever raccoon friends were getting inside and helping themselves to nightly feasts. Until we could secure the box properly, we weren’t able to place feed out.

With the new vending machines, we’re excited to get safe, appropriate feed back out for everyone to enjoy.

A Reminder About Bread
Please help us care for our waterfowl by limiting the amount of bread you give them. Bread fills them up without providing the nutrients they need.

Better Alternatives to Feed Our Waterfowl Friends
Here are healthier options you can bring from home:

Cracked corn

Oats (rolled or quick)

Bird seed

Defrosted peas

Cut grapes

Duck pellets

Chopped lettuce

These foods are much healthier and help keep our ducks, geese, fish, turtles, and swans thriving.

Thank you for your patience — and for helping us take great care of the wildlife that calls Riverside home.

09/01/2026

Perpetual Care & Marker Responsibilities
We’ve had several questions and concerns about marker appearance, especially after our recent clarification that the stones are not covered in soot or mower oil. This is a good time to explain how marker care works and what Perpetual Care actually includes.

Who Owns the Marker
Each marker or monument is privately owned by the family. Because of this, the cemetery cannot clean, scrub, polish, or alter a marker without the family’s authorization.

Families are responsible for:

Cleaning

Polishing

Restoration

Lettering repair

What Perpetual Care Is
Perpetual Care is the long‑term commitment to maintain the cemetery grounds. When a lot is purchased, a portion of the cost is placed into a regulated Perpetual Care Fund. The principal of that fund is never spent — only the interest it earns can be used for maintenance.

What Perpetual Care Covers
Perpetual Care provides:

Grounds maintenance — mowing, trimming, leaf removal, and landscape care

Marker support — leveling or resetting markers that shift naturally over time

Infrastructure upkeep — roads, pathways, drainage, and shared spaces

What Perpetual Care Does Not Cover
Perpetual Care does not include:

Cleaning or washing markers

Polishing or restoring stone

Repairing damaged markers

Fixing worn lettering

Removing environmental staining, lichen, moss, or algae

These services remain the responsibility of the families who own the markers.

Cleaning Options for Families
For families who would like assistance, Riverside Cemetery provides a list of professional monument cleaners who specialize in safe, historic‑appropriate stone care.

We are also beginning to offer an optional marker cleaning service, with pricing based on a sliding scale determined by marker size. Families may contact the office for details, estimates, and scheduling.

If you have questions about your family’s marker or need guidance on cleaning options, we’re always here to help.

Address

611 N Center Street
Marshalltown, IA
50158

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

(641) 753-7891

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Riverside Cemetery posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Riverside Cemetery:

Shortcuts

Share

Category