Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc.

Veteran services at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc.

Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc., located in Oakley, KS, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families. This includes assistance with obtaining VA burial benefits, arranging military funeral honors (such as flag presentation, the playing of Taps, and a rifle salute), and applying for Presidential Memorial Certificates, headstones, markers, or memorial plots." Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $2,985 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include memorial services, graveside ceremonies, basic cremation options, and full service cremation options. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

Published pricing at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc.: direct cremation from $2,985. That places direct cremation roughly 13% above the Kansas median ($2,647). 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 Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney in KS, approximately 53 miles from Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc.. Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Kansas has approximately 428 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,985. 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 Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. is located at 217 Freeman Ave. in Oakley, KS. You can reach the home at (785) 672-3671. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. offer veteran families?

Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. provides traditional funerals, memorial services, graveside ceremonies, basic cremation options, full service cremation options, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families. This includes assistance with obtaining VA burial benefits, arranging military funeral honors (such as flag presentation, the playing of Taps, and a rifle salute), and applying for Presidential Memorial Certificates, headstones, markers, or memorial plots.

Which faith traditions does Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Methodist, Christian (Non-Denominational), Lutheran, Baptist families, among others.

What sets Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Inc. apart

Operated by the Kennedy family since 1920, providing continuous local service.
Offers a comprehensive 'Griefwords Online Library' resource from Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a noted grief expert.
Provides preplanning services that allow families to lock in today's funeral costs.
Dedicated assistance with veteran benefits and military funeral honors, including flag presentation and Presidential Memorial Certificates.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Services

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Graveside Ceremonies

Cremation

· Basic Cremation Options
· Full Service Cremation Options

On-site facilities

· Seating for 220

Affiliations & specializations

Specializations

· Traditional funerals
· Basic cremation
· Grief support
· Urn selection
· Military burial services (including veteran burial flags)
· Memorial services
· Honoring many faiths and customs

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Methodist, Christian (Non-Denominational), Lutheran, Baptist.

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.