Iowa County Cemetery Pilot Project

Cristina D. Pearson

G.I.S. Coordinator

I got an Idea!

The idea for the cemetery GIS project actually came through general conversation. As the Veteran’s office was trying to figure out what GIS could do for them, we threw the idea of creating a system which would allow them to query Veteran’s graves throughout the County.

I got a Volunteer!

Joe Weier, a student ot UW-Milwaukee approached us in early Spring 2004, requesting to do an internship with the County for that summer. And, he was willing to do it as a volunteer basis and gain college credits for his summer internship.

Getting Started

With limited computer and software available for the intern, we decided that the Joe could begin to compile the database which would be needed for the GIS. We soon learned that there were other uses for cemetery information other than just Veteran’s graves and decided to compile a database of all burial plots in each cemetery in the County.

Gathering Data

We determined where we could get such data and found there were abundant sources for such data and all we needed to do was gather it and merge it all together. Data sources were:

Cemetery officials County Veterans Department Register of Deeds

Gathering Data Continued

Church Officials Genealogical Societies Funeral Directors City, Town and Village Clerks Historical Societies Obituaries Private individuals

Data Formats

Large maps, written on old paper or even an old window shade

Death Certificates Newspaper Articles Military Service Cards Cemetery Plot lists

Unexpected Bonus

During our searches for data, we were told of a gentleman by the name of Bill Klosterman, who made it a hobby of his to research many cemeteries and determine who was buried in each one. He had boxes and files and binders full of family histories, burial locations, obituaries and maps. Joe worked many hours with this gentleman, listening to his stories and gathering Data. Unfortunately, Mr. Klosterman died on December 4, 2004. Because of the enjoyment he gained from working with Joe and the excitement he had on what we were trying to accomplish, he made note to his family that Iowa County was to receive all his records upon his death. In January, 2005, 23 boxes, two filing cabinets and dozens of binders were delivered to Iowa County. They are currently housed in the Register of Deeds Office with a Dedication to Bill Klosterman for his generous donation.

Database Design

Identify each cemetery in Iowa County and give it a unique identification Number.

Determine the general format of cemeteries, i.e. lots, blocks, rows, sections and rows

Determine how to identify each burial plot in the cemetery.

Create a “Lot identification Number” for each burial plot in each cemetery by combining the cemetery identification number and the burial plot number.

Database Design

Determine what information would be sought from the users of this information and what types of queries would possibly be done.

Deceased’s name Maiden name D.O.B D.O.D. Lot, row, block, section number Veteran, yes or no War Branch of Service Death Certificate Number Spouse(s), Children Condition of Headstone

Create Spatial Data

We took the Cemetery layout maps and Survey maps and drafted them out much like we would a Subdivision map. We created a polygon for each burial plot and tagged it with the Lot Identification Number. We used the orthophotos and the parcel mapping to better guide us in the development of the map.

Arena Cemetery

Query for “Hodgson”

Highlighted every Hodgson buried in Arena Cemetery

Unused plots are polygoned but are given a LIN for future use.

Green Polygons denote used burial site.

Arena Cemetery

Query on Veteran’s Graves

Thank You

Cristina Pearson - Iowa County GIS Coordinator

Joe Weier – Student Intern, UW- Milwaukee

Special thanks to the Family of Bill Klosterman