Son Finds Dad’s Grave Disrupted On Father’s Day

By Mark Carlson, Reporter

These are the among 36 headstones that were knocked over last weekend in Millersburg. The Iowa County Sheriff's Department is investigating the vandalism as well as theft of decorations at the town cemetery. A visitor discovered the event on Father's Day when he went to decorate his father's grave. (Mark Benischek/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jun 19, 2012 at 6:54 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 19, 2012 at 9:42 PM CDT

MILLERSBURG, Iowa — The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a troubling weekend discovery. On Sunday, 36 headstones were found knocked over or moved at the Millersburg Cemetery.

“I had noticed that some solar lights were missing and an American flag that I had been keeping on his grave for 33 years now was gone,” said Mick Dietze, who made the discovery last Sunday, on Father’s Day. “I looked up and a bunch of (headstones) were knocked over.” Dietze has been a regular visitor to the cemetery since his father’s death in 1979. His gravesite is marked with a WWII marker. While his father’s headstone wasn’t vandalized like some of the others, the discovery was difficult for the longtime resident. “It saddens me, but it makes me very angry too,” said Dietze. “This is evil.”

The Sheriff’s Office has yet to estimate the expense of the damage. Some headstones, which were more than a century old, snapped in half after hitting the ground.

“It’s sad, because he’s related to us,” said Christin Rodgers, who’s great uncle’s headstone was knocked over. “I’ve never met him, he died before I was born, but it’s really sad.”

Iowa County Sheriff Robert Rotter said he suspects kids may have been involved. A neighbor said he heard kids in the cemetery last Friday night, but didn’t think anything of it, Dietze said. Police are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward.