The First Presbyterian Church Cemetery (traditionally known as Truhlar Cemetery) holds approximately 350 burials, with early records tracing back to the region's early Czech and Bohemian immigrant communities.
Address: 12400 Spanish Rd / 12174 Spanish Road, Ely, IA 52404
To contact the cemetery sexton for plot purchases, burial records, or to make a donation for the cemetery upkeep, please contact the church.
OTHER LINKS:
"Find A Grave" webpage lists the graves in the cemetery:
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2181246/memorial-search?cemeteryName=First+Presbyterian+Cemetery&page=1#sr-7303490
Also, "Iowa Gravestones: lists the graves in the cemetery:
https://iowagravestones.org/cemetery_list.php?CID=57&cName=First+Presbyterian+a.k.a.+Truhlar+a.k.a.+First+Bohemian
And finally, at the bottom of this linked page is a listing of Czech terms and months to help with translating the gravestones:
https://iagenweb.org/linn/cemeteries/FirstPresList.htm
TRANSLATION Czech to English
Family Relationship Translations:
Brart = brother
Dcera = daughter
Ditko = child
Manžel = husband
Manželka = Wife
Matka = mother
Otec = father
Sestra = sister
Syn = son
narozen = born
odpočívá = rests
rodiče = parents
rozená = maiden name
zemřel = died
Months were more difficult as there are several different translations possible.
Following are the ones that appear most used here...
Ledna = January
Ŭnor = February
březen = March
Dubna = April
Maje/Kvet = May
červen = June
červenec = July
Srpen = August
Září = September
Říjen = October
Listopad = November
Prosinec = December
Address: 12400 Spanish Rd / 12174 Spanish Road, Ely, IA 52404
To contact the cemetery sexton for plot purchases, burial records, or to make a donation for the cemetery upkeep, please contact the church.
OTHER LINKS:
"Find A Grave" webpage lists the graves in the cemetery:
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2181246/memorial-search?cemeteryName=First+Presbyterian+Cemetery&page=1#sr-7303490
Also, "Iowa Gravestones: lists the graves in the cemetery:
https://iowagravestones.org/cemetery_list.php?CID=57&cName=First+Presbyterian+a.k.a.+Truhlar+a.k.a.+First+Bohemian
And finally, at the bottom of this linked page is a listing of Czech terms and months to help with translating the gravestones:
https://iagenweb.org/linn/cemeteries/FirstPresList.htm
TRANSLATION Czech to English
Family Relationship Translations:
Brart = brother
Dcera = daughter
Ditko = child
Manžel = husband
Manželka = Wife
Matka = mother
Otec = father
Sestra = sister
Syn = son
narozen = born
odpočívá = rests
rodiče = parents
rozená = maiden name
zemřel = died
Months were more difficult as there are several different translations possible.
Following are the ones that appear most used here...
Ledna = January
Ŭnor = February
březen = March
Dubna = April
Maje/Kvet = May
červen = June
červenec = July
Srpen = August
Září = September
Říjen = October
Listopad = November
Prosinec = December
The originating pastor of the church, Rev. Frantisek Kún is buried in the cemetery:
The congregation lovingly provided a stone marker that was placed at the grave of Rev. Kún as a reminder of his legacy:
"Founder and beloved Pastor of First Bohemian and Moravian Brethren Church near Ely, Iowa; and Apostle and Missionary to the Czech Protestants in the central West; Professor of classical languages in Western College, Western, Iowa; a faithful servant of his Master and his people; Beloved Friend. Asleep in Jesus."
The congregation lovingly provided a stone marker that was placed at the grave of Rev. Kún as a reminder of his legacy:
"Founder and beloved Pastor of First Bohemian and Moravian Brethren Church near Ely, Iowa; and Apostle and Missionary to the Czech Protestants in the central West; Professor of classical languages in Western College, Western, Iowa; a faithful servant of his Master and his people; Beloved Friend. Asleep in Jesus."
Rev. Francis Pokorny served the church 1910-1938.
Rev. Francis Larew served the church 1952-1961.
