Burial at Great Lakes National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Great Lakes National Cemetery

Great Lakes National Cemetery is the second national cemetery built in Michigan and the 122nd in the national cemetery system.

Great Lakes National Cemetery is located approximately 50 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, in Holly Township, Oakland County. The cemetery borders Fagan Lake, and is located on a portion of a land grant from the Federal Government to Terrance Fagan in 1836. Historically, the property served as farmland until it was acquired by the National Cemetery Administration in 2002.

In the 20th century, the property was purchased by Bryson Dexter Horton, a Spanish-American War veteran-turned-industrialist who invented the "Square D" switch. Horton's invention dramatically improved electrical safety, by encasing the switch in steel and protecting users from the live electrical current. Mr. Horton constructed a small house on the property in 1927, and reportedly entertained such preeminent locals as Henry and Edsel Ford, who both hunted and fished there.

Great Lakes National Cemetery was established in 2005, and the first burial took place on October 17 of that year.

Notable veterans buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
• » Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
• Corporal Thomas Powers (Indian Wars). Powers (1848–1884) was born in New York City and enlisted in the U.S. Army from Detroit on April 17, 1867. He served during the Indian Wars in Company G, 1st U.S. Cavalry. In October 1869, during the Campaign of the Rocky Mesa, Powers and his fellow troopers were patrolling what would become the state of Arizona in search of the legendary Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise. On October 20th, Powers was involved in a sharp fight with some of Cochise's men who had ambushed a stagecoach. While few details have survived, Powers was credited with killing one warrior and recommended for the Medal of Honor due to his "gallantry in action." His medal was issued February 14, 1870 and he was discharged at Camp Bidwell, California in March 1872. He passed away in December 1884 in Juddville, MI. He was originally interred at Cummin Cemetery but now rests in Section 16, Site 272.
• Private First Class Robert Ernest Simanek (Korean War). Simanek was born in Detroit, Michigan and worked in the automobile industry before joining the Marine Corps in August 1951. He sailed for Korea less than a year later and joined Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, First Marine Division. On August 17, 1952, during the Battle of Bunker Hill (a prolonged series of battles for frontline outposts), PFC Simanek's unit was ambushed while moving to occupy Outpost Irene and forced to seek cover in a trench line. During the fighting, Simanek threw himself on an enemy grenade to save his comrades and was severely wounded. He was awarded for the Medal of honor for this action. He had previously earned two bronze stars for action in Korea. Simanek returned to the United States and was medically discharged. President Dwight Eisenhower presented him the Medal of Honor on October 27, 1953. He earned a degree in business management after his service. The Department of Navy named an expeditionary sea base in his honor, USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB-7) in 2021. He died on August 1, 2022 and is interred with his wife in Section 35, Site 341.
• Other Burials Private First Class Allan C. Barnes (Vietnam). Barnes (1949–2016) was a jazz saxophonist and Army veteran from Detroit. As a child, he developed a love of music from his uncles, who taught him to play a number of musical instruments, including the saxophone and flute. In 1967, after graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and received further musical training from the Naval School of Music. Upon completion of the school, he was deployed to Vietnam as part of the 4th Division Army Band. After receiving an honorable discharge in February 1970, Barnes returned to Detroit where he put together a band named The Blackbyrds. Barnes wrote two of their award-winning songs, "Summer Love" and "Walking in Rhythm," before forming Allan Barnes and Primetime. Throughout his life, he worked with many well-known artists and penned music for a number of television shows and commercials. He also created the show "Jazzland" on PBS. He rests in Section 13, Site 1473.
• Sergeant Donald Robert Burgett (World War II.) Burgett (1925–2017) hailed from the west side of Detroit, MI. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of eighteen following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as a rifleman and machine gunner. Burgett jumped into Normandy on June 5, 1944, and participated in Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Nordwind, earning three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star Medal. After the war, Burgett wrote Currahee!: A Screaming Eagle at Normandy (1967) which became a best seller. He went on to write three more popular books about his World War II experiences. The Post Office in Howell, MI was named in his honor. Burgett passed away in 2017 and now rests in Section 12B, Site 614.
• Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Lynn Everett Chandnois (World War II.) Lynn Chandnois (1923–2011) was born in Fayette, MI. He moved to Flint to attend high school and upon graduation joined the U.S. Navy in 1944. He served two years in the Naval Air Corps during World War II and was discharged in 1946. After his military service, Chandnois attended Michigan State University, where he played football. Chandnois was voted MVP in 1948 and an All-American in 1949. After college he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played eight seasons until injuries caused him to retire in 1958. Chandnois still holds the Steelers record for returning two kick-offs for touchdowns in 1952. That same year he was voted to the NFL All-Pro team and was the NFL Player of the year. Following his football career, he returned to Michigan to live out the rest of his days. He is now rests in Section CC20, Row A, Site 70.
• Steward's Mate First Class Petty Officer Clarence E. Isabell, Jr. (World War II.) Isabell (1926-2015) was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. For three decades, he worked as a barber and also with Motown records as a musician playing the double bass. From 1959 through 1962, he was one of the first members of Motown's Funk Brothers, a group of musicians who backed most of the labels' groups during the 60's and 70's. Isabell was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 and now rests in Section CC11, Row D, Site 42.

Eligibility for burial at Great Lakes National Cemetery

Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs covers the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, and a U.S. burial flag at no cost to eligible families.

Visiting hours

Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. VA will continue its practice of honoring special requests for weekend burials for religious purposes, in cases of service members killed in action and on at least one day of any three-day Federal holiday weekend at all open VA national cemeteries.

How to schedule a burial at Great Lakes National Cemetery

1. The funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (24/7 for active funeral arrangements).
2. Provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, social security number, dates of service, branch, and date of death.
3. Fax or email the DD-214 to the cemetery's interment office for verification.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed (typically 30–60 minutes for complete documentation), the cemetery assigns a date, time, and committal shelter.
5. The funeral home transports the deceased to Great Lakes National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Great Lakes National Cemetery sits in the Michigan cemetery system

Great Lakes National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Michigan. The cemetery is currently accepting new in-ground and columbarium interments. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Great Lakes National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.