Veterans

At Cress Funeral and Cremation Service we are proud to be the exclusive Wisconsin provider of Veterans Funeral Care. We are honored to serve the veteran and military community.

Research has shown that many veterans do not receive all the benefits that they are entitled to. One call to Cress Funeral and Cremation Service and we handle all the details. Our staff is trained to handle every detail of making burial and cremation arrangements for veterans. This includes our answering questions about military protocol, assuring that legal requirements are met, and providing whatever equipment, facilities, and technical services that may be needed. We will help you in obtaining all veterans’ benefits available, social security benefits and life insurance.

It is important that you know that all veterans, and possibly their spouses and children, are entitled to free cemetery spaces, grave opening/closing, grave liner and headstone at any VA cemetery.

We take our responsibility to you very seriously. It is helpful to consider all your options and take time to ask questions before making final decisions about such an important event. It is our intent to help make the entire experience as positive as possible.

We hope the following information will answer any questions you have regarding the various benefits available to veterans and their families. If you have additional questions, please free to call any one of our eight locations.

You can also reach us day or night, seven days a week toll free at (800) 235-9681.

Military honors are available to all veterans regardless of rank or location of burial.

If you are retired military with 20 years or more of service, we will call and request an active duty honor guard from your branch of service. The ceremony will consist of a Chaplain to speak, flag folding and presentation to next of kin, rifle salute and the playing of TAPS.

Currently, we call volunteer, local veterans groups for Military Honors requests. Typically these are retired veterans with incredible service histories. The ceremony will consist of a Chaplain to speak, flag folding, presentation and the playing of TAPS. Rifle Salute is not regulation but is often offered. Payment is not required but these groups accept donations.

If you have the DD214 but have lost or misplaced medals such as a purple heart, a bronze star or theatre ribbon, we can order it for you.

The Military provides a wood flag case for any active duty deaths. For all other veterans, we stock wood flag cases.

• High-Quality casket with choice of color
• Transfer from place of death
• Securing permits and documents
• Professional services of a Cress Funeral Director and staff
• Embalming and preparation of the body
• Funeral service conducted at our facility, your church or graveside
• Visitation held prior to start of service
• Funeral coach
• All transportation within 60 miles
• Guest register book and 100 memorial folders
• At-need financing available to qualified applicants

Reimbursement of burial: For information on eligibility and the different levels of potential reimbursement, please review the Guide to VA Burial Allowances.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Click on Veteran Services and look under the Burials & Memorials heading.

Veterans' Funeral and Burial Benefits. Useful information from the Funeral Consumers Alliance.