Veteran services at Thorson Funeral Home
Thorson Funeral Home, located in Viroqua, WI, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Popp Funeral and Cremation Services offers dedicated veteran services, reflecting the extensive military background of its founder, Thor Thorson, who served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Medical Service Corps for both the Army and Navy, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Thor was involved in the recommissioning of the Battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin and regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day Military Honors. Owner Nathan Popp is also affiliated with the Reserve Officers Association, U.S. Navy League, and U.S. Naval Institute. The funeral home provides assistance with Social Security benefits, which includes information on eligibility for a one-time lump-sum death payment and monthly benefits for eligible survivors." On-site amenities include chapels and ample parking lot, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. A smaller but favorable set of 19 reviews averages 4.7 stars.
Veteran-related services offered include veteran services, burial, cremation, graveside service, memorial sculpture, and pet appreciation day memorial service. 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 the transfiguration butterfly garden and 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.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Preston in MN, approximately 61 miles from Thorson Funeral Home. Thorson Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Thorson Funeral Home holds a 4.7-star rating from 19 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
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. Thorson Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Thorson Funeral Home publish funeral prices?
Thorson Funeral Home has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (608) 637-7041, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Thorson Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Thorson Funeral Home is located at 856 South Rusk Ave. in Viroqua, WI. You can reach the home at (608) 637-7041. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Thorson Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Thorson Funeral Home provides service options, veteran services, merchandise, online store, service pricing, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Thorson Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Popp Funeral and Cremation Services offers dedicated veteran services, reflecting the extensive military background of its founder, Thor Thorson, who served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Medical Service Corps for both the Army and Navy, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Thor was involved in the recommissioning of the Battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin and regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day Military Honors. Owner Nathan Popp is also affiliated with the Reserve Officers Association, U.S. Navy League, and U.S. Naval Institute. The funeral home provides assistance with Social Security benefits, which includes information on eligibility for a one-time lump-sum death payment and monthly benefits for eligible survivors.
Which faith traditions does Thorson Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Christian families, among others.
How do families rate Thorson Funeral Home?
Thorson Funeral Home holds a 4.7-star rating across 19 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Thorson Funeral Home apart
- Quality Service: Curated experiences that celebrate individual legacies and unique stories, with families receiving full attention and support.
- Community Involvement: Consistent participation in activities that support and improve community well-being, with staff acting as passionate volunteers.
- Professionalism: Recognized as a leader in the profession, with decades of experience, extensive training, and active memberships in reputable professional associations, including being an NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award recipient.
- Affordability: Consumer-oriented pricing policy offering cost-effective options for every budget, with assistance for crowd funding, third-party financing, and an "Angel Fund" for impoverished families.
- Philanthropy: Donates 10% of every dollar earned back to the community for worthwhile causes.
- Special Events: Maintains a calendar of uplifting programs to commemorate and celebrate life, such as a Valentine's Day Dinner, Holiday Service of Remembrance, and a Pet Appreciation Day Memorial Service.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial
- · Graveside Service
- · Committal Service
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
- · International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR)
- · Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association (WFDA)
- · National Association of Social Workers
- · Reserve Officers Association
- · U.S. Navy League
- · U.S. Naval Institute
- · Viroqua Area Chamber of Commerce
Specializations
- · Veteran Services
- · Independent Funeral Home
- · Family-Run Business
- · Certified Funeral Celebrant
- · Certified Cremation Arranger
- · Certified Crematory Operator
- · Memorialist
- · Monarch Waystation
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Christian. Languages spoken at the home: English.
Branches of service supported
Based on the home's stated services and specializations, Thorson Funeral Home has documented experience supporting the following branches:
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Thorson Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude for Nathan and his staff at Popp Funeral and Cremation Services. We will forever be thankful and grateful for the patience, care and compassion they had for our family and loving father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. From the moment they arrived at our home to take him into their care, to listening to our every request without reservation, to honoring him with every piece of meaningful items from his change to his jackknife to his toy tractors and chainsaw to his hundreds of photos. He exceeded our expectations of honoring our loved one’s wishes for a party and celebration with good food, good music and good company. Nathan was completely flexible and there wasn’t a request or answer that he didn’t have available! Our family highly recommends Nathan and his staff at Popp Funeral and Cremation Services! Thank you, the Lawrence Mahan Family”
“Over all a great experience During a difficult time, Popp funeral home provided exceptional service with a level of care and attention to detail that truly stood out. From the initial arrangements to the final farewell, every aspect was handled with professionalism and compassion. The staff ensured that every request was met with kindness and precision, making the process as smooth as possible. Their thoughtful touches and careful planning brought comfort to our family, allowing us to focus on honoring our loved one. I highly recommend Nathan and Todd for their dedication, respect, and meticulous attention to every detail.””
“i want to thank Dr. Popp and Thor Thorson for their amazing support and direction in planning my moms celebration of life. They were extremely accomodating and made the whole process so easy and stress free. My moms service went very smoothly and thanks to their help it was one of the most beautiful and touching ceremonies I have attended. They took care of our every need and provided wonderful support during this difficult time. I cant thank them enough.”
“The facility was spacious and had all the amenities one would require. Beautiful spacious room for lunch down to every detail including the centerpieces. I requested the coffin to be reopen. The care they took was if it was one of there own family members. They were so professional but yet personable. Thank you for a perfect flawless service.”
“Popp funeral home treated our family with respect and kindness. They were very responsive with all communication through e-mail, phone and text. They were very knowledgeable and able to answer our questions and explained everything well.”
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.