Veteran services at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center
Foster Funeral and Cremation Center, located in Webster City, IA, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Foster Funeral and Cremation provides professional assistance to help families complete necessary forms to obtain benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for deceased veterans. They assist with VA burial benefits, memorial items, and understanding eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The firm also helps arrange military funeral honors, which include the playing of 'Taps,' a rifle detail, a color guard, and the presentation of the United States flag to the next of kin. They guide families through the application process for non-service-connected and service-connected burial allowances, and assist with requesting headstones or grave markers for eligible veterans." Published pricing lists $8,000 for basic burial and $2,550 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include burial services, cremation services, memorial services, and veteran services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Iowa Veterans Cemetery in IA, approximately 64 miles from Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. Foster Funeral and Cremation Center can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Iowa has approximately 577 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Foster Funeral and Cremation Center is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Foster Funeral and Cremation Center publish funeral prices?
Foster Funeral and Cremation Center has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (515) 832-2110, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Foster Funeral and Cremation Center located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Foster Funeral and Cremation Center is located at 800 Wilson Ave. in Webster City, IA. You can reach the home at (515) 832-2110. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Foster Funeral and Cremation Center offer veteran families?
Foster Funeral and Cremation Center provides burial services, celebrant services, celebrations of life, cremation services, funeral services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Foster Funeral and Cremation Center help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Foster Funeral and Cremation provides professional assistance to help families complete necessary forms to obtain benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for deceased veterans. They assist with VA burial benefits, memorial items, and understanding eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The firm also helps arrange military funeral honors, which include the playing of 'Taps,' a rifle detail, a color guard, and the presentation of the United States flag to the next of kin. They guide families through the application process for non-service-connected and service-connected burial allowances, and assist with requesting headstones or grave markers for eligible veterans.
Which faith traditions does Foster Funeral and Cremation Center accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Christian Churches and Churches of Christ families, among others.
What sets Foster Funeral and Cremation Center apart
- Over a century of continuous service in Webster City, Iowa, since 1908.
- On-site crematory, ensuring loved ones remain in their direct care throughout the cremation process.
- Family-owned and operated, with second-generation funeral director Scott Erickson.
- Comprehensive pre-planning services, including an online pre-planning form and certified pre-planning consultants.
- Extensive grief support, including one year of free daily grief support emails and counseling referrals.
- Active community involvement through local organizations like Webster City Rotary and Kiwanis.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Services
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC)
Specializations
- · Veteran Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, Evangelical Free Church of America, Baptist, Lutheran. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.