Veteran services at Steinke Funeral Home
For veterans in Rensselaer, IN, Steinke Funeral Home coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Steinke Funeral Home specializes in Veterans Services, offering assistance with VA burial benefits and providing a dedicated 'Veterans' Burial Benefits eBook' to help families understand available support. They facilitate services, including those with full military honors, as evidenced by past arrangements for veterans." Published pricing lists $5,695 for basic burial and $2,695 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, burial services, and veterans services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
Published pricing at Steinke Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,695. That places direct cremation roughly 17% above 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 59 miles from Steinke Funeral Home. Steinke Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
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. Steinke Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Steinke Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,695. 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 Steinke Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Steinke Funeral Home is located at 403 North Front Street in Rensselaer, IN. You can reach the home at (219) 866-5151. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Steinke Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Steinke Funeral Home provides funeral services, cremation services, personalization, burial services, veterans services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Steinke Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Steinke Funeral Home specializes in Veterans Services, offering assistance with VA burial benefits and providing a dedicated 'Veterans' Burial Benefits eBook' to help families understand available support. They facilitate services, including those with full military honors, as evidenced by past arrangements for veterans.
Which faith traditions does Steinke Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Christian (Independent Christian Church, Bethel Bible Church, Brookside Church, Assembly of God), United Methodist families, among others.
What sets Steinke Funeral Home apart
- Dedicated Preplanning Specialist (Sally Niehoff) available for consultations.
- Regularly hosted preplanning events and seminars, such as 'Cookies & Conversation,' to educate the public on advance funeral planning and related topics.
- Offers downloadable resources including a 'Preplanning Checklist,' 'Burial or Cremation' eBook, and 'Veterans' Burial Benefits' eBook.
- Operates two distinct physical locations in Rensselaer and Morocco, Indiana, providing local access to services.
- Long-standing family business established in 1973, with second-generation involvement.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Services
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · Indiana Funeral Directors Association
- · Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
Specializations
- · Veterans Services
- · Preplanning
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Christian (Independent Christian Church, Bethel Bible Church, Brookside Church, Assembly of God), United Methodist. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish (via website translation feature; local Catholic church offers Spanish Mass).
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.