Former heavyweight champion George Foreman was buried in a cemetery in northwestern Iowa—a place he visited in 1988 and where he recalled experiencing a sense of peace. His family revealed the burial location this week during a news conference at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City.
Foreman’s choice to be buried in Sioux City reflected an impression that had stayed with him for 38 years—his 1988 visit to the region, where he recalled experiencing peace. When his family returned to the cemetery a year later, they said they immediately understood the region’s appeal.
Foreman died in his native Houston on March 21, 2025. He was buried about a month later in the cemetery just a few miles north of the Missouri River. His family did not publicly reveal the location until Thursday, when they held the news conference with Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott.
“Our father lived a life of purpose, faith and gratitude,” the family said in a statement. “To see him laid to rest in a place that brought him peace means everything to us.”
The cemetery overlooks the scenic Loess Hills, windblown silt deposits that reach up to 200 feet high and stretch 200 miles along the river on the Iowa border. Sioux City is an Upper Midwest city of nearly 87,000 people.
“Their story is a reminder of how one place can stay with someone for a lifetime,” said Mayor Scott.
Boxing career
Foreman rose to international prominence through boxing. He made the 1968 U.S. Olympic boxing team and won gold in Mexico City. As a professional, he became heavyweight champion of the world in 1973 after defeating Joe Frazier. He lost the title the following year to Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Two decades later, Foreman made a dramatic return to the sport. In 1994, at age 45, he defeated Michael Moorer to become the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship. He retired in 1997 with a record of 76 wins and 5 losses.
From boxing to business
After his boxing career, Foreman became a businessman and television personality. The George Foreman Grill, a countertop cooking machine he endorsed, sold more than 100 million units and generated far greater wealth than his boxing career had produced. He also worked as a television personality and occasional actor, reaching new generations of Americans.
In 2023, a biographical film based on Foreman’s life was released, cementing his legacy in American popular culture.