Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service

Veteran services at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service

Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, located in Iowa City, IA, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Gay & Ciha Funeral & Cremation Service provides extensive support for veterans and their families. This includes assisting with the application for veteran benefits, such as burial allowances for VA or private cemeteries, and cremation allowances. They help with obtaining burial flags, provide information and assistance for burial in National VA Cemeteries and the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, and aid in securing headstones, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates. The funeral home automatically files necessary notifications with the Veterans Administration on behalf of the deceased." Published pricing lists $5,900 for basic burial and $2,000 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, burial service, and veterans benefits. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

Published pricing at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service: direct cremation from $2,000. That places direct cremation roughly 31% below the Iowa median ($2,905). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Rock Island National Cemetery in IL, approximately 51 miles from Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service 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. Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,000. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.

Where is Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is located at 2720 Muscatine Ave. in Iowa City, IA. You can reach the home at (319) 338-1132. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service offer veteran families?

Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service provides funeral service, cremation services, burial service, pre-planning, grief support, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Gay & Ciha Funeral & Cremation Service provides extensive support for veterans and their families. This includes assisting with the application for veteran benefits, such as burial allowances for VA or private cemeteries, and cremation allowances. They help with obtaining burial flags, provide information and assistance for burial in National VA Cemeteries and the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, and aid in securing headstones, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates. The funeral home automatically files necessary notifications with the Veterans Administration on behalf of the deceased.

Which faith traditions does Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic families, among others.

What sets Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service apart

Focus on remembering the unique life of the individual, not just conducting a standard funeral service.
Offers complimentary services for deceased younger children, providing care without cost to the family in these specific situations.
Does not solicit pre-arranged funeral services through calls, door-knocking, mailings, or commissioned salespeople; pre-planning discussions are conducted by licensed funeral directors only when initiated by the family.
Features an on-site crematory, ensuring all cremation processes are handled directly by their staff.
Licensed funeral directors are available 24/7 for immediate assistance.
Committed to serving all families, regardless of financial situation, ensuring care with respect, dignity, and compassion.

Military & veteran services offered

★Veterans Benefits

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial Service

Cremation

· Cremation Services

On-site facilities

· Open Foyer

· Children's Playroom

· Family Arrangement Office

· On-site Crematory

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
· Cremation Association of North America
· National Funeral Directors Association
· A Greener Funeral

Specializations

· Grief Support
· Veterans Benefits
· Pre-Arrangement
· Child Loss Support

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic.

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 Settlement

How 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.