"Labor of Love" G.A.R. Block 13, LeMars Memorial Cemetery

 

Restored Stones by Stan:

Andrew, Gladys

DeJager, Norman

GAR, Block 13 (military section)

Kennedy, Watson D.

Roope, Harris (on this page)

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Message to this County Coordinator from Stan D. Culley, June 2012:

LINDA:

I HAVE A FRIEND IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA WHO FIRST GOT ME INTERESTED IN DOING THIS KIND OF REPAIR WORK. THEN I WENT TO TRAINING SEMINARS IN INDIANAPOLIS, PUT ON BY THE INDIANA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THERE WERE

GROUPS OF ABOUT 30 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED EACH YEAR – I CAME THE FARTHEST DISTANCE TO ATTEND; BUT WE HAD ONE OF THE BEST INSTRUCTORS IN THE NATION TEACH US HOW TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK. I NEVER HAD ANY INTEREST IN DOING THIS KIND OF WORK, LINDA – I JUST STARTED DOING IT AND LOVED IT. PART OF IT I THINK IS THE GENEALOGY WORK I DID ON MY OWN FAMILY AND SAW THE CONDITION OF MANY CEMETERIES. IT IS REALLY SAD AND THAT MADE ME WANT TO DO WHAT I COULD – EVEN IF I don’t KNOW OR AM NOT RELATED TO THE PEOPLE WHOSE MARKERS I REPAIR. JUST LIKE THE GLADYS ANDREW MARKER – 16 MONTHS OLD WHEN THAT GIRL DIED. THINK ABOUT THE TEARS HER PARENTS SHED AT THAT GRAVE AND HOW MUCH IT HURT TO PLACE THAT MARKER AND THEN LOOK AT IT WHEN THEY VISITED. NOW IT IS BROKEN AND NO ONE AROUND TO CARE – THEN I CAME ALONG LAST WEEK AND SAW IT LAYING AGAINST THE TREE AND OUT OF PLACE.

I HAD TO FIX IT LINDA.

I AM RETIRED AND I DO MOVE A LITTLE SLOWER WITH A LOT OF PAIN FROM ARTHRITIS; BUT I TAKE MY CHAIR AND SIT DOWN AND REST WHEN I GET TIRED OF WORKING – THEN GET UP AND DO IT AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE A 19 YEAR OLD FRIEND WHO IS ALSO INTERESTED IN DOING THIS KIND OF WORK. HE HELPS ME WHEN I HAVE TO WORK ON THE HEAVIER STONES ESPECIALLY. LINDA – I DO LIVE IN LE MARS BEFORE I FORGET TO TELL YOU THAT AND YES BY ALL MEANS FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS
INFORMATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND I WILL BE GLAD TO KEEP SENDING YOU PICTURES AS I MAKE THE REPAIRS ON OTHER STONES. THANKS FOR BEING INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF WORK, LINDA – NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE TODAY.

~STAN D. CULLEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tombstone Restoration

Volunteer Stan D. Culley has shared photographs of the restoration work that he has been doing. Awesome job, Stan! Plymouth County Iowa is fortunate to have such a caring and gifted individual. Included with these photos for this website are notes from Stan in quotes. Stan has done a superb job. If you see Stan out and about, be sure and give him the encouragement and praise he deserves. Our ancestors stones are in good hands with Stan Culley!

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Roope, Harris: born 22 Sep 1859; died 30 Nov 1881 -- LeMars Memorial Cemetery, Block 6, Lot 34; Obituary link

"This is the kind of condition I find these markers in at the cemetery and the different steps of the actual cleaning and repair of a marker like this broken one."

"The cross was badly stained from 131 years of Lichen growth."

"Original condition, cleaning cross"

"Epoxy cross together with steel pin -- color matching mortar to fill crack"

"Finished Repair"

IAGenWeb 2012

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