IADECATU-L Archives

From: Steffani Kennedy <>
Subject: Death Records for the State of Iowa
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 17:19:07 -0500

I recently sent applications for death records to the Iowa State Dept.
of Health. They both came back saying the State did a 20 year/statewide
search and found nothing. Both of these requests were for Decatur
County, IA - one for l9l5 and one for l9l9. My ancestors are both
buried in Decatur Cemeteries and I have photographed their headstones,
have them on census records, etc.

In talking with the State Dept., it was not mandatory to file a death
record until after the l940s and she stated they only have about 20-30%
of those. They tried to make it mandatory in l923, but did not enforce
it, rescinded it and changed it back in the l940s because of so many
people working for the Government at that time. She also told me the
State Health Dept. was registered in l880, its purpose being to record
dog bites that occurred.

I tried to find death records for Decatur County in the Recorder's
Office (they are very helpful there)..and I contacted Slade's Funeral
Home to find records. No one came up with anything. I know that
Slade's has been in operation for 4 generations now, but they apparently
don't like to go that far back in their records to do lookups. (I can
understand this to some extent, as their time is limited).

I would hate to think I lived and died and no one even bothered to keep
a record - or - write an obituary...

What is "true" genealogy without records?

I am not "downing" any of the entities that I've mentioned here, as I
know they do the best they can, with what they have recorded.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who might want to comment on this or
perhaps offer some direction.

Thanks so much. Nancee at

This thread:

• Death Records for the State of Iowa by Steffani Kennedy <>