Buchanan County Genealogical Society

Buchanan County Genealogical Society This turned into a lengthy project and the book “Buchanan County, Iowa, Cemeteries, 1980" was published.

During the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, the Buchanan County Historical Society decided to research all the cemeteries in Buchanan County, while the tombstones were still legible. The Buchanan County Genealogical Society was formed as a branch of the Historical Society. Since that time thousands of obituary/cemetery cards have been filed and are updated weekly. Our library is staffed entirely by volunteers who help researchers when they visit the library or by mail or email.

From the Independence Conservative for February 17, 1976; I-Hyh Insert:Mime performers from large group speech contest -...
02/19/2026

From the Independence Conservative for February 17, 1976; I-Hyh Insert:
Mime performers from large group speech contest - Beth Grover, Judy Eddy, Laurie Craig, and Tammy Hoover.

From the Independence Conservative for January 6, 1976:Can you identify this picture?Answer for previous photo:Interior ...
02/18/2026

From the Independence Conservative for January 6, 1976:
Can you identify this picture?

Answer for previous photo:
Interior of the Commercial State Bank was once located where Northeast Security Bank is now.

From the Independence Conservative for February 17, 1976:Cover photo - Billy Jo Kilby, Angela Shaw, Becky Brown, Dan Ald...
02/17/2026

From the Independence Conservative for February 17, 1976:
Cover photo - Billy Jo Kilby, Angela Shaw, Becky Brown, Dan Aldrich, Alanna Kelley and Jeff Uthoff.

Darlene was a very important part of our society and has been a great asset to our group for over 25 years. She will be ...
02/16/2026

Darlene was a very important part of our society and has been a great asset to our group for over 25 years. She will be greatly missed!

INDEPENDENCE – Darlene Eleanore Zummak Esmoil, 96 years old, of Waterloo, Iowa, and formerly of Independence, Iowa, died of natural causes, Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Friendship Village Retirement Community in Waterloo.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence with burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the church.

Darlene was born on September 13, 1929, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond Henry Zummak, Sr. and Bertha Hermine (Lenz) Zummak. She grew up on a farm outside of Jesup and graduated high school at the age of 16, with the Jesup High School class of 1945. Darlene continued her education at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and became a secretary at the American Can Company in Waterloo.

On December 4, 1949, Darlene was united in marriage to Walter Ora “Ozzie” Esmoil in Jesup. During Walter’s time in the Marines, the couple relocated, but ultimately settled in Independence, where they raised their family. Darlene worked as the Secretary of Nursing Education at the Mental Health Institute in Independence and was very active in the community and her church. Darlene was environmentally conscious, service minded, and she was always looking for ways to help others. For many summers, Ozzie and Darlene would set up their camper at EWALU Bible Camp in Strawberry Point, Iowa, and served as camp hosts. They loved spending their hours splitting and stacking firewood, as well as helping build and repair the buildings at the camp. At her church, she enjoyed volunteering with the quilting group, along with helping assemble school, sewing, and baby supply kits to be sent overseas. She also devoted much of her time to the Buchanan County Genealogy Society. Her memory was sharp as a tack, and she served as the family historian. Darlene cherished every minute she could spend with family.

Darlene is survived by one daughter, Diane (Tom) Eachus of Waterloo; one son, Brent (Karen Nelson) Esmoil of Helena, Montana; two grandchildren Brian (Natalie Gillard) Eachus, Sarah Eachus; one great granddaughter, Gwenivere Eachus; one brother, Raymond Zummak, Jr. of Jesup; one sister, Rachel (Dixon) Bunger of Carrollton, Texas; many nieces and nephews; and her goddaughters, Lori (Chuck) Glander, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Andrea (Brett) Soukup of Independence.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sons, Bruce Lee Esmoil, Brian Dean Esmoil, Bradley Walter Esmoil; and one brother, Duane Zummak.

Memorials may be directed to the church or EWALU Bible Camp.

Online condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com.
White Funeral Home, Independence, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.

From the Independence Conservative for December 30, 1975:Can you identify this picture?Answer for previous photo:Dubuque...
02/16/2026

From the Independence Conservative for December 30, 1975:
Can you identify this picture?

Answer for previous photo:
Dubuque Street in Quasqueton.

From the Independence Conservative for February 10, 1976:Leanne Harrison meets with John Conrad of the Iowa American Rev...
02/12/2026

From the Independence Conservative for February 10, 1976:
Leanne Harrison meets with John Conrad of the Iowa American Revolution Bicentennial Commission to plan the local celebration.

From the Independence Conservative for December 23, 1975:Can you identify this photograph?Answer on Monday.Answer for pr...
02/11/2026

From the Independence Conservative for December 23, 1975:
Can you identify this photograph?
Answer on Monday.

Answer for previous photo:
The old Washington and Emerson Schools located in the northeast part of Independence.

From the Independence Conservative for February 10, 1976:Porkettes have annual meeting - Pictured are Barbara Ryherd, G...
02/10/2026

From the Independence Conservative for February 10, 1976:
Porkettes have annual meeting - Pictured are Barbara Ryherd, Gayle Copenhaver, Sylvia Milbach, Diana Muchmore, Sydney Morine, and Kathy Partridge. Mentioned are Linda Nabholz and Juanita Burns.

From the Independence Conservative for December 16, 1975:Can you identify this photograph?Answer on Wednesday.Answer for...
02/09/2026

From the Independence Conservative for December 16, 1975:
Can you identify this photograph?
Answer on Wednesday.

Answer for previous photo:
An old log cabin that once stood on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds.

From the Independence Conservative for December 9, 1975:Can you identify this photograph?Answer on Monday.Answer for pre...
02/04/2026

From the Independence Conservative for December 9, 1975:
Can you identify this photograph?
Answer on Monday.

Answer for previous picture:
The interior of People's National Bank, which was located where Buchanan County Abstracts is now.

From the Independence Conservative for February 3, 1976:Patrol Car Damaged in Chase- Trooper Keith Wilcox mentioned with...
02/03/2026

From the Independence Conservative for February 3, 1976:
Patrol Car Damaged in Chase- Trooper Keith Wilcox mentioned with a very dramatic photo.

From the Independence Conservative for December 2, 1975:Can you identify this photograph?Answer for previous photo:Main ...
02/02/2026

From the Independence Conservative for December 2, 1975:
Can you identify this photograph?

Answer for previous photo:
Main Street in Hazleton

Address

103 4th Avenue SE
Independence, IA
50644

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 1:30pm
Thursday 2pm - 5pm

Telephone

(319)3349333

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