DUBUQUE MEMORIAL GARDENS INC.

DUBUQUE MEMORIAL GARDENS. One of Dubuque's largest cemeteries, a new section opened for veterans in 1992 had more than 4,000 available plots. It was then news in December, 1992 when it was announced that the state was looking for more than $63,000 from a trust fund set up to maintain graves. Bonnie Campbell, Iowa Attorney General, filed a consumer protection lawsuit against the cemetery's owner to try and find the money. (1)

Iowa law stated that at least 20% of the price of a plot was to be placed in an irrevocable trust that guaranteed perpetual care. Perpetual care cemeteries also must file an annual report with the attorney general as another protection. (2)

In December 1991 the trust money was wired by DUBUQUE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, the trustee of the money, to a "Donald Leopard Trust" account at a bank in Fort Worth, Texas. Leopard had be ordered earlier in 1992 to pay more than $200,000 restitution for his failure to deposit in a trust payments made by consumers to funeral homes and cemeteries in Des Moines and Ottumwa. It was thought, but could not be proven, that Leopard had sold the cemetery to Kell C. Terry of Hurst, Texas. (3)

The 1970 Dubuque City Directory listed 669 Fischer Building.

The 1985 Dubuque City Directory listed Route 3 Airport Road.

The 1987 through 1989 Dubuque City Directory listed 8209 Jecklin Lane.

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Source:

1. Bagsarian, Tom. "State Digs into Graves Trust," Telegraph Herald, December 11, 1992, p. 1

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.