T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — Kelly Schott, pictured is the new general manager at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown.

Kelly Schott has been named the new general manager at Riverside Cemetery. She brings to the job experience working in museums and in the field of environmental management. She assumed duties on January 27 after a three-month search that entailed reviewing more than 50 applications.

“The Riverside Cemetery board of directors is excited to welcome Kelly Schott to her new role as general manager. She started on Monday and is already making things better,” said Interim General Manager Deirdre Gruendler. “I’ll be wrapping up my interim duties over the next several weeks as Kelly takes over the reins.”

Gruendler has served in the interim role since Oct. 21, 2024.

A longtime resident of Gladbrook, Schott has degrees in conservation management and history from Upper Iowa University.

“I was the first female to go through their history program and graduate,” she noted.

Schott added that she’s worked in these disciplines since she was 13 years old.

With a love of cemeteries, she has taught programs on headstones and does cleaning of graves.

“My grandparents lived across the street from Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls, so that was always a fascinating place for me,” she said.

She is a living history reenactor who has traveled the country, including participating in the 250th anniversary celebration of Fort Niagara.

She previously worked at The Bushwhacker Museum in Nevada, Missouri and at Fort Scott Museum in Fort Scott, Kansas. For 16 years, she worked as the environmental coordinator for the Meskwaki natural resources. At the Cedar Falls Historical Society, she served as volunteer education coordinator and archivist. Locally, Schott was museum director of the Historical Society of Marshall County in 2012. She is vice president of the Board of Iowa Archaeological Society.

“I’m excited to get started and have enjoyed my first couple of days. Riverside Cemetery is fortunate to be led by a committed, volunteer board of directors and passionate staff,” she said. “In my first tours around the cemetery, I’ve learned so much about the historical significance, the environmental challenges and opportunities, and the beautiful ways in which family and friends commemorate those who rest here.”

As general manager, she said she would continue to support efforts to find a solution to the water issues at Lake Woodmere, as well as attract more wildlife. She wants the public to know tree debris has been cleaned up.

“The trees are healing. There’s new growth coming on some of the trees. It will be interesting to watch. New trees are being planted. There is a lot of new regeneration,” she said.

Marshall Cemetery Association DBA Riverside Cemetery is a 501 c 13 nonprofit, perpetual care cemetery. She is looking at funding for three- and five-year budgets. She hopes to develop a strategic plan within the first six months on the job that would be on the table for board review by the end of her first year. Road improvements, digitizing records and taking inventory of available space would be tackled.

“We’re looking at updating the Riverside Cemetery brochure itself, and doing some social media,” she said.

New activities she envisions offering at Riverside include a living Nativity in the winter, painting classes, history tours and collaborative fundraisers with local non-profits. She would like counseling and grieving support groups to be able to meet at the cemetery.

“When we launched our search for the next general manager, we weren’t sure who would respond. Kelly’s personal interests, experience and expertise, and calm energy are just what we hoped we would find. We’re truly fortunate to find a leader of Kelly’s caliber,” said Board Chair Marty Mitchell.

Schott knows the public enjoys walking their dogs at the cemetery and eating lunch beside Lake Woodmere, watching the waterfowl, especially love birds Frankie and Blossom. She credits the grounds crew for the good condition of the cemetery.

“Everybody is so nice and complimentary and there is just a lot of community support for the cemetery,” she said. “It is a very peaceful place. It’s a very calming place. It’s very beautiful, and I think people forget that we’re here. We’d like to do some more public events and activities — encourage people just to come.”

Schott may be reached at: 641-753-7891 and GM@rsc50158.org.