Legendary Boxer George Foreman Chose to Be Buried in Iowa

It's been over a year since heavyweight champ George Foreman died at the age of 76. Surprisingly, it was revealed this week that he was laid to rest in Iowa, which came as a shock to many given the legendary boxer was born and raised (and even passed away) in Texas.

Per The Des Moines Register, Foreman was struck by the beauty of northwest Iowa while on a visit in the 1980s. He was so moved by it that he decided that's where he wanted to be laid to rest. Now, his wish has been granted.

Low and behold, it was Foreman's trip to Sioux City that stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Per The Des Moines Register, Foreman told his family he wanted to be buried in Iowa, specifically in Sioux City, for that particular region of the country had given him "a sense of peace." It all goes back to his trip to the Loess Hills region in 1988. Apparently, Foreman continued to talk about that trip late into his life.

His family obliged the wishes of their late patriarch. They traveled from Texas to bury him at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City, which overlooks the Loess Hills. A family representative stated that as soon as they arrived in Sioux City, they understood why Foreman wanted to be buried there.

This week, Foreman's family returned to Sioux City to honor his legacy, with Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott even commenting on the boxer's decision to be buried there, saying: "Their story is a reminder of how one place can stay with someone for a lifetime."

Foreman's story is one of overcoming obstacles and leaving an international legacy. He won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, and went on to become a two-time heavyweight boxing champion. Of course, you can't tell Foreman's story without also mentioning the George Foreman Grill, an appliance that brought grilling into the home. Due to its slope-like structure, excess fat and grease falls is cooked off the food and into the accompanying drip tray.