Cemeteries in Shelby County, IA
Shelby County, Iowa has 36 cemeteries in our directory, listed under 6 nearby cities and towns. The most listings are near Harlan (21), Avoca (5) and Audubon (3). Among them are 6 municipal cemeteries (17%), 5 church cemeteries (14%) and 3 Catholic cemeteries (8%).
All cemeteries in Shelby County
- Harlan CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Bethlehem Lutheran CemeteryHarlanLutheran cemetery
- Saint Boniface CemeteryHarlanCatholic cemetery
- Saint Marys CemeteryHarlanCatholic cemetery
- Saints Peter and Paul Catholic CemeteryHarlanCatholic cemetery
- Astor CemeteryDenisonCemetery
- Bowmans Grove CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Carlsen - Larsen CemeteryAtlanticCemetery
- Cass Township CemeteryHarlanMunicipal cemetery
- Clay Township CemeteryAtlanticMunicipal cemetery
- Cuppys Grove CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Danway CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Doyle CemeteryWoodbineCemetery
- Elk Horn CemeteryAudubonCemetery
- Fairview Township CemeteryHarlanMunicipal cemetery
- Folck CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Gallands Grove CemeteryWoodbineCemetery
- Gallands Grove RLDS Holcomb CemeteryDenisonCemetery
- Grove Township CemeteryWoodbineMunicipal cemetery
- Jacobson CemeteryAvocaCemetery
- Lee CemeteryAvocaCemetery
- Lincoln Township CemeteryHarlanMunicipal cemetery
- Merrills Grove CemeteryAudubonCemetery
- Monroe CemeteryAvocaCemetery
- Oak Hill CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Olson CemeteryAvocaCemetery
- Poplar CemeteryAudubonCemetery
- Rabbit Hallow CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Red Line CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Rose Hill CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Saint Joseph CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Saint Mary's CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Shelby CemeteryAvocaCemetery
- Slates CemeteryHarlanCemetery
- Union Township CemeteryHarlanMunicipal cemetery
- Washington Township CemeteryHarlanChurch cemetery
Cemeteries by town
Cemetery types
Neighboring counties
How Shelby County compares
Shelby County has 30.5 listed cemeteries per 10,000 residents, against 15.7 for Iowa, which puts it 42nd of 99 Iowa counties on this measure. Census estimates count 165 deaths here in 2024, about 165 for each of the 1 funeral homes we know of (84th of 99 by number of funeral homes).
| Measure | Shelby County | Iowa | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cemeteries per 10,000 residents | 30.5 | 15.7 | 42nd of 99 |
| Cemeteries per 100 square miles | 6.1 | 9.1 | 69th of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 (estimate) | 165 | 32,472 | 58th of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 per listed cemetery | 4.6 | 6.4 | 49th of 99 |
| Funeral homes | 1 | 369 | 84th of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 per funeral home | 165 | 88 | 11th of 99 |
| Cremation providers | 1 | 83 | 22nd of 99 |
| Monument dealers | 1 | 32 | 7th of 99 |
| Notable burials | 4 | 748 | 42nd of 99 |
Population and deaths: US Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates. Land area: 2020 Census Gazetteer. Funeral homes, cremation providers and monument dealers come from our sister directory, Funeral Home Directory USA. Ranks run from the highest value down, among Iowa counties with the figure available. Compare Shelby County with other places.
Funeral homes and monument dealers in Shelby County
- Pauley Jones Funeral HomeFuneral home · Harlan · (712) 755-3135
- Heartland Funeral & Cremation ServicesCremation provider · Harlan · (712) 755-3177
- Sondag MonumentMonument dealer · Harlan · (712) 733-9741
Listings from our sister site, Funeral Home Directory USA. Call ahead: services, prices and hours are not shown here.
Frequently asked questions
How many cemeteries are in Shelby County?
We list 36 cemeteries in Shelby County, Iowa. Small family burial grounds recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey are included, so the count is higher than the number of cemeteries with an office or staff.
Where are burial records for Shelby County kept?
Death certificates are held by the Iowa vital records office and often the county clerk or health department. Individual cemeteries keep their own interment records; church cemeteries may keep them at the parish office. County historical and genealogical societies often have transcriptions of older cemeteries.
Can I visit family cemeteries in Shelby County?
Many family cemeteries sit on private land. Ask the landowner before visiting. Iowa law may give descendants a right of reasonable access, but the rules and process vary by state.
Related guides
- Religious Burial Customs in the USHow Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox and Latter-day Saint traditions shape burial, timing and cemetery choice.
- How Much Does a Cemetery Plot Cost?What drives plot prices in the US, typical ranges by cemetery type and region, and the fees that come on top of the plot itself.
- How to Write an ObituaryWhat to include, a fill-in template, where to publish, what newspapers charge by, and how to protect the family from identity theft.
- How Much Does a Burial Cost?A line-by-line look at the cost of a traditional burial: plot, opening and closing, vault, casket, marker and funeral home fees.