Cemeteries

In Illinois, townships often become the caretakers of cemeteries that have been abandoned or have fallen into disrepair. Such is the case with Evergreen and Oakwood Cemeteries – both of which are owned maintained by DeKalb Township.

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Cemetery Hours are Dawn to Dusk.

Burial Lots

Burial lots are currently available in Oakwood Cemetery. Information and availability can be obtained by contacting Supervisor Hess at the Township office.

Evergreen Cemetery

Located at 724 South Seventh Street, Evergreen Cemetery is DeKalb’s oldest cemetery, dating back to 1855. The cemetery is the final resting place of many notable early residents, including DeKalb co-founder Lewis Huntley; Benjamin Gurler, patriarch of the Gurler family; blacksmith and machinist Phineas Vaughan; early merchants John M. Goodell, Basil Ruby, Willard B. King, and Robert Newitt; and farmer Elisha Foster, whose historic brick home still stands on Annie Glidden Road south of Taylor Street. Evergreen also contains the graves of the parents of barbed wire inventor Joseph F. Glidden.

In addition, Evergreen Cemetery honors the service of veterans from the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. During a years-long restoration project, DeKalb Township was able to locate and unearth several veterans’ graves that had sunk and become hidden over time.

Prior to the Township assuming ownership, Evergreen Cemetery was operated by several different entities, beginning with its founding organization, the DeKalb Center Sewing Circle in 1854, and ending with the Union Cemetery Association, which initiated the transfer of ownership to DeKalb Township in 1997.

Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery — located at 611-615 N. First Street — is DeKalb’s second-oldest cemetery, dating back to 1865.  Originally called Oakland,  it would later be referred to as Union Cemetery, before its name was officially changed to Oakwood in early 1889.

The same sewing circle that founded Evergreen Cemetery also established Oakwood Cemetery. The five-acre plot was purchased in 1865. For decades, the Union Sewing Circle managed both cemeteries, overseeing plot sales, record keeping, maintenance, and infrastructure improvements such as wells, fencing, and roadways — an extraordinary feat for a grassroots, women-led organization in the 19th century.

In 1881, the group formally organized as the DeKalb Cemetery Association, later becoming known as the Union Cemetery Association of DeKalb. After many years of financial challenges, the Union Cemetery Association began discussions in 1997 to transfer ownership of the Oakwood Cemetery to DeKalb Township, in accordance with Illinois law.

In March 1998, under the leadership of then-Supervisor Pat Lavigne, the DeKalb Township Board of Trustees officially voted to assume ownership of both Evergreen and Oakwood Cemeteries.

Since then, DeKalb Township has worked diligently to restore and enhance these historic spaces.

Restoration & Improvements

DeKalb Township and the DeKalb Township Road District have worked diligently to restore and maintain the cemeteries entrusted to their care. We regard this responsibility with great respect, recognizing both the historical significance of these sites and the sanctity of those laid to rest within them.

It is our hope that future generations will continue to explore and reflect upon DeKalb’s history through these cemeteries, where the stories of those who came before us remain present and visible in the landscape they helped shape.

Since DeKalb Township took ownership of Oakwood & Evergreen Cemeteries, the Township has worked diligently to restore and enhance these historic sites. Notable projects & improvements include:

  • A new fence installed along the west side of Oakwood Cemetery, commissioned by former Supervisor Eric Johnson.
  • A split-rail fence and flower garden installed by local Eagle Scouts along the southern property line at Oakwood Cemetery.
  • An annual collaboration with NIU Cares Day, under the leadership of Supervisor Mary Hess, to conduct a clean-up of Oakwood Cemetery.
  • A collaborative effort with the DeKalb Park District, resulting in a lighted, paved pathway between the Ellwood House & Oakwood Cemetery.
  • Improved upkeep of cemetery grounds, via a 2017 intergovernmental agreement, which shifted grounds maintenance away from outside entities and into the care of the DeKalb Township Road District.
  • A 2021 walking historical tour of Oakwood Cemetery led by the late local historian Steve Bigolin.
  • A comprehensive cemetery mapping project that launched in 2023, under Supervisor Hess, and was completed in 2025.
  • A 2024 infrastructure improvement, resulting in Oakwood Cemetery's decaying roads being replaced with paved surfaces, enhancing accessibility and aesthetics.
  • Newly installed cemetery signs in 2025—designed by DeKalb resident Jane Levinsky—at both Evergreen and Oakwood locations.
  • The expansion of Oakwood Cemetery with the addition of Peace Park in 2025 & 2026.

Peace Park - A Future in the Making at Oakwood Cemetery

In March 2025, DeKalb Township received a generous gift from longtime resident Gretchen Moore, establishing the foundation for the expansion of Oakwood Cemetery and the creation of new, affordable, environmentally conscious interment options. The project reflects a vision first cast by Township Supervisor Mary Hess during discussions with Mrs. Moore about cemetery restoration and long-term care. Mrs. Moore and her late husband had long hoped to make a lasting contribution to the community, though they had not yet found the right opportunity. When Supervisor Hess shared the concept, Mrs. Moore immediately recognized its potential and helped bring the vision to life.

The proposed expansion was approved by the DeKalb Township Board at its March 2025 meeting. At Mrs. Moore’s request, the new section was named Peace Park, reflecting its tranquil setting and intended sense of comfort. Following approval of a special use permit by the City of DeKalb in May 2025, the project advanced toward construction.

Work on Peace Park began in April 2026, with completion anticipated in Fall 2026. The space will feature a columbarium & ossuary, landscaped green areas, walking paths, benches, and a variety of trees and flowers designed to blend naturally with the surrounding landscape, creating a setting for reflection, remembrance, and connection.

More than an expansion, Peace Park represents a living continuation of Oakwood Cemetery’s history—where heritage, stewardship, and thoughtful design come together. It is a place where the past is honored, the present is engaged, and the future is being shaped.

The Township is deeply grateful to Mrs. Moore for her generosity and passion for this project. As Peace Park develops, individuals, families, and businesses are invited to participate through engraved brick pavers, memorial benches, and tree plantings. These tributes will become part of a living landscape that connects generations.

Peace Park is a place where history continues to grow, and where each contribution becomes part of a shared story shaped by community care and purpose. It reminds us that history is not only something we inherit, but something we help create.

DeKalb Township welcomes the community to join in shaping this evolving legacy—one that unites history, stewardship, and what is yet to come.

For more information, contact Supervisor Hess at 815-758-8282. Additional details coming soon.