Schaff Funeral Services

Veteran services at Schaff Funeral Services

For veterans in West Allis, WI, Schaff Funeral Services coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Schaff Funeral Service provides comprehensive support for veterans, ensuring eligible service members receive military funeral honors, including the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps. They assist families with navigating veteran benefits such as obtaining Presidential Memorial Certificates, headstones or markers, memorial plots, burial in VA national cemeteries, and reimbursement of burial expenses. Eligibility is verified by the veteran’s DD-214 discharge papers." On-site amenities include chapels and reception hall, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,250 for basic burial and $3,175 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include traditional burial, immediate burial, memorial services, graveside services, cremation services, and interment of cremated remains. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapels. 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 Schaff Funeral Services: direct cremation from $3,175. That places direct cremation roughly 10% above the Wisconsin median ($2,885). 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 Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in WI, approximately 22 miles from Schaff Funeral Services. Schaff Funeral Services can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Wisconsin has approximately 539 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Schaff Funeral Services is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Schaff Funeral Services apart

• Five generations of family ownership and operation since 1925, with a history rooted in serving diverse immigrant communities.
• Specialization in green burial options for environmentally conscious arrangements.
• Dedicated veteran services, including assistance with VA benefits and military honors.
• Multilingual website and staff, reflecting historical service to Eastern European and German populations.
• Offers online crowdfunding for funeral services and funeral expense loans directly through their website.
• Emphasis on personalized services that accommodate various religions, cultures, and budgets.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Polish National Catholic, Lutheran, Christian (Non-Denominational, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal). Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish, Croatian, German, Italian, Serbian, French, Polish.

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.