Treat your Valentine and yourself to one or more of these fine Iowa programs this month.

Saturday, February 11, 2012: Grant Wood’s Birthday Soup Smorgasbord. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Ledon KD Center, 300 KD Avenue, Eldon. American Gothic House Center, 641-652-3365.

Join the American Gothic House Center to celebrate the 121st anniversary of Grant Wood’s birth (officially on February 13). Enjoy delicious home-cooked soup straight from the kitchens of American Gothic House Center volunteers! Complete the meal and the celebration with a slice of birthday cake or a brownie and a mug of hot coffee. Freewill donations are welcome.

Saturday, February 18: Church /Funeral Home /Cemetery Records Genealogical Research Class. 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines. 515-276-0287, igs@iowagenealogy.org.

Linda Greethurst, instructor. Church records are a necessity for researching pre-vital records or “the burned court house” situation. We’ll take a look at different types of church records and their importance in genealogy.  We will also spend time studying the wealth of information that you can find in Funeral Home Books and what you can expect to find in the actual cemetery and monument company records. Preregistration required. Cost: $5 IGS members/ $10 non-members.

Tuesday, February 21: Looking for Grave Sites Genealogical Research Class.11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines. Jan Myers, instructor. Learn how to maximize your online exploration of cemetery websites, including FindAGrave. Usgenweb, and Billiongraves.com. Feel free to bring your lunch and munch as we learn! Preregistration required. Cost: $5 IGS members/$10 non-members.

Sunday, February 26: Easter in Germany: Traditions. 2. p.m. German American Heritage Center, 712 W 2^nd St, Davenport. 563-322-8844, director@gahc.org.

Kathlyn Hofmann presents on Easter commons practiced in German homes and at community venues and events. Highlights include a series of slides: “Osterbrunnen,” elaborately decorated wells and fountains found in the Franconia area of northern Bavaria. Kathlyn lived in Germany for 27 years. Free with museum admission.

Tuesday, February 28: Iowa in the Civil War. 7 p.m. Ames City Auditorium, 520 Sixth Street, Ames, Iowa. Sponsored by the Ames Historical Society, 515 232-2148.

Presented by O.J. Fargo, Green Valley Education Agency (retired), Creston. During the sesquicentennial observance of the Civil War, we bring you O.J. Fargo’s presentation that details Iowa’s involvement from Ft. Sumter to the surrender at Appomattox. Although Fargo focuses on the everyday experiences  of a soldier in the field, he also describes the situation on the home front and politics of the era. He’ll bring the roster of Iowa soldiers who served, and interested researchers can look up those from Story County. Fargo has authored two books on Iowa history and a book on the everyday life of a Civil War soldier among many other publications. He is also president of an Iowa regiment of Civil War re-enactors and will appear in uniform.$2 freewill donation requested at the door.