Veteran services at Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home
Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home, located in Gary, IN, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Warner Funeral Homes & Crematory assists families in obtaining VA burial benefits and memorial items for deceased veterans. This includes help with necessary forms, securing military funeral honors (such as 'Taps,' a rifle detail, a color guard, and flag presentation), and arranging for headstones or markers for eligible veterans. They provide guidance on eligibility requirements for burial in a VA national cemetery for veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $3,825 for basic burial and $1,450 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. A smaller but favorable set of 29 reviews averages 4.5 stars.
Veteran-related services offered include burial and cremation. 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 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 Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,450. That places direct cremation roughly 37% below the Indiana median ($2,300). 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 Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in IL, approximately 41 miles from Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home. Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home holds a 4.5-star rating from 29 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
Indiana has approximately 779 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,450. 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 Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home is located at 4209 Grant St. in Gary, IN. You can reach the home at (219) 887-1852. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home provides funeral arrangement, pre-planning, grief support, live streaming, visitation, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Warner Funeral Homes & Crematory assists families in obtaining VA burial benefits and memorial items for deceased veterans. This includes help with necessary forms, securing military funeral honors (such as 'Taps,' a rifle detail, a color guard, and flag presentation), and arranging for headstones or markers for eligible veterans. They provide guidance on eligibility requirements for burial in a VA national cemetery for veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents.
Which faith traditions does Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, United Methodist, Lutheran (Missouri Synod), Non-denominational Christian, Reformed (Alliance of Reformed Churches, Reformed Church in America, Reformed Church in the United States) families, among others.
How do families rate Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home?
Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home holds a 4.5-star rating across 29 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home apart
- Ownership and operation of their own crematory, ensuring continuous care for loved ones.
- Integrated monument and memorialization services through Warner Monuments and Cremation Services.
- Comprehensive grief support programs, including a 6-week 'Helping You Heal' group, an annual 'Candlelight Service of Remembrance,' and the 'Everything After' and 'Brighter Mornings' guidance programs.
- Provision of 'Away From Home Assurance' for pre-planned services, offering peace of mind for families.
- Multi-generational staff involvement and multiple locations across Northwest Iowa (Spencer, Everly, Peterson, Sutherland).
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial
- · Committal
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Order of the Golden Rule
- · Concord Family Services, Inc.
- · Embassies of Christ Kingdom Ministries
- · Greater Gary AMVETS Post 6
Specializations
- · Veteran Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, United Methodist, Lutheran (Missouri Synod), Non-denominational Christian, Reformed (Alliance of Reformed Churches, Reformed Church in America, Reformed Church in the United States). Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Smith Bizzell Warner Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“If you are looking for a funeral home that truly cares about families and honors your loved one with dignity and compassion, we wholeheartedly recommend Smith, Bizzell and Warner Funeral Home. During one of the most difficult times in our lives, they provided extraordinary care and support. From the moment we picked up the phone and walked through the door, we were treated with genuine kindness and respect. They took wonderful care of our loved one, and the funeral service was absolutely beautiful—far beyond anything we could have imagined. We are a very small family, yet the staff stepped in and filled gaps we did not even realize existed. They guided us through every step with patience and grace, making a difficult process much easier. They made the service feel incredibly meaningful and honored our loved one in a way that truly reflected how important he was to us. Funeral Director Dana White, along with Marilyn Luckett, and the entire staff, were simply outstanding. They went above and beyond without hesitation and even provided thoughtful touches and keepsakes that were completely unexpected and deeply precious to our family. Some businesses treat moments like this as a transaction, but that is not the case here. Their compassion, professionalism, and heartfelt care made a lasting impression on us. If we ever need funeral services again, Smith, Bizzell and Warner Funeral Home will be the only place we turn. Thank you, Dana White and your entire staff. You are truly top-notch. I would give 10 stars if I could!”
“"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional care and support Sylvester, funeral director at the time, and the Staff of Smith&Bizzell provided during My Mother's (Victoria) services back in 2018. I apologize for the delay in writing this review, but I've always wanted to express my appreciation. From the moment I contacted you, you guyz demonstrated professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail. I know there were some challenges behind the scenes, but you handled everything with grace and efficiency. You listened to all of our requests and ensured that every aspect of the service was handled with the utmost respect. Your kindness and understanding during this difficult time were invaluable to me and my family. Thank you for making a challenging process as smooth as possible." -Jackie (Teamer) Rahman”
“Smith Bizzell and Warner just did my father services and let me tell you from the first call I was pleased!!! His Homegoing was amazing and they made it so personable! My family was so pleased! So thank you Dana, Marilyn, Lemeca, Dylan and all the other funeral directors you guys are amazing I recommend this funeral home 10/10.”
“The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They treated us like family and showed us so much grace as we completed this difficult journey. I truly appreciate their thoughtfulness and professionalism. Special thanks to Dana, Lameca and Marilyn. You ladies went above and beyond to accommodate our family and get us through the process. Thanks a million!”
“During one of the most difficult times in my life; Dana and the rest of the amazing staff at Smith, Bizzell, and Warner Funeral Home made the process of laying our father to rest a lot less stressful. We had the opportunity to work with a dedicated staff who provided us with a beautiful memorial, and for that; I am grateful. It's never easy to lose a loved one, but Smith, Bizzell, and Warner made the truly difficult parts easier.”
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.