Veteran services at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.
Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. serves veteran families in Fort Dodge, IA with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services specializes in honoring veterans, offering dedicated services to those who have served." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $7,050 for basic burial and $2,800 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. The firm holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 68 reviews.
On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.
Published pricing at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.: direct cremation from $2,800. That places direct cremation roughly 4% 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 Iowa Veterans Cemetery in IA, approximately 68 miles from Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. holds a 4.9-star rating from 68 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
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. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,800. 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 Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. is located at 1615 North 15th St. in Fort Dodge, IA. You can reach the home at (515) 576-7128. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. offer veteran families?
Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. provides traditional funeral service, cremation, personalized service, pre-planning, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services specializes in honoring veterans, offering dedicated services to those who have served.
How do families rate Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.?
Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. holds a 4.9-star rating across 68 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. apart
- Decades of experience since 1960, with the business established in 1966.
- Leadership by Phillip Gunderson, recognized for extensive community philanthropy and service.
- Merger with Larson-Weishaar Funeral Home in Manson, Iowa, expanding service area.
- Award of Excellence from the Iowa Funeral Directors Association for community service.
- Partnership with Homesteaders Life Company for pre-payment options, offering protection from inflation.
- Specialization in honoring veterans.
Burial & cremation services
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Iowa Funeral Directors Association
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · Cremation Association of North America
- · International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association
- · Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance
Specializations
- · Honoring Veterans
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“The first time I stepped into Gundersons Funeral Home, I was a little girl and now as grown up, I still feel the love, compassion and the understanding from everyone at Gundersons Funeral home. They welcomed my family and I, like we are family. They made sure my needs and wants are being met, when you're dealing with finanical burden and losing a loved one they take care of you, without judgment, they give you all your options and help you decide what's the best one for you and your family. Its been 10 years since my Aunt Bev left us, I was 38 back then, it was my first Funeral that I was responsible for and I needed to make plans and had to make huge decisions for my Aunt Bev's funeral. It's was a very difficult time for me and Gundersons Funeral home made it a comfortable experience. They notice what I was feeling and stepped when I needed them the most. I havent forgotten the day of her service. I will never forget how wonderful they were to my family and I. Now my mother has passed and I came back to Gundersons and was treated with dignity, respect and compassion. I felt the same feelings I did in the past. Thank you to Alyssa, Dallas and Elizabeth for making things go smoothly, for my mother's passing. Thank you so much for checking on me and taking care of me. You made this hard part of my life easier, you're very compassionate and caring people. Once again, Gundersons made everything run smoothly and made me feel, and my mother's passing important to them. I will be seeing you in the furture even though we all never want to go through these difficult times. It hard to avoid them. Thanks again for all you do for my family!”
“We so appreciated all the help and support from Gunderson when my mom passed away. She had a prepayment plan that was very thought out and covered all the details making things go smoothly in a difficult time. The taping of the funeral was a huge bonus for our family for those who could not travel during this time. They also worked well with the long term care facility coordinating the fellowship and lunch so it was seamless from start to finish. I would highly recommend Gunderson’s. They made a difficult time special so that we could just be family honoring and remembering our mom in the way she wanted.”
“Dallas and Janet did a very great job at doing the service for my Dad. Very pleased with how things were arranged. Would recommend Gunderson Funeral Home and there great staff. Thank you to Elizabeth for reaching out and the kind words in this very difficult time.”
“My experience with the Gunderson Funeral Home was exceptional. They were professional and understanding, as they explained their services and helped us with the burial of my mother. It is one of the most challenging times when a loved one passes from this life. Thankfully there are organizations like the Gunderson Funeral Home, with great people, to help. I would highly recommend them. Thank you!”
“Rob and his team at Gunderson’s was so kind and compassionate, helping our family through an incredibly difficult time. They handled every detail with care and made the entire process so much easier for us. We’re truly grateful for their support and professionalism during my mom’s celebration of life.”
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.