Behner Funeral Home & Crematory

Benefits

Dept. of Veteran Affairs

A VA Burial Allowance is a partial reimbursement of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursement is generally described as two payments:
(1) a burial and funeral expense allowance
(2) a plot interment allowance

Eligibility Requirements:
~You paid for a veteran's burials or funeral and
~You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source and
~The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
~The veteran died because of a service-related disability or
~The veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death or
~The veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation but decided not reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay or
~The veteran died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

Service Related Death
VA will pay up to $1500 toward burial expenses for deaths prior to Sept. 10, 2001. For deaths on or after Sept. 11, 2001, VA will pay $2000.

If veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of moving the deceased may be reimbursed.

Non-service Related Death
VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses and a $150 plot-interment allowance for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. The plot-interment allowance is $300 for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. If death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under contracted nursing home care, some of the costs for transporting the deceased's remains may be reimbursed.

You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance. You must attach proof of the veteran's military service (DD214), a death certificate and copies of the funeral and burial bills you have paid.

For information about burial in a VA National Cemetery, Headstones, Markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates, go to www.cem.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

The veteran is entitled to a U.S. burial flag at no charge. Behner Funeral Home needs a copy of the veteran's DD214 in order to procure the flag. In addition, Lion Neil Doyle will craft a special flag case to display the flag following the service. Cost of the case is a good faith donation to the Lion's Club of Fairfield

Social Security

Information about eligibilty, lump sum payment, applying for death benefits, etc. Toll Free phone number is: 800-682-8501.

Merchandise

Whitney Monument Company

Kent and Ronda Whitney are the 5th generation to offer sincere, personal service, which began in Keosauqua, Iowa in 1873.

Whitney Monument Company moved to Fairfield in 1911, and have been in their current location at 601 N. 6th Street since 1934.

Their local phone number is (641) 472-4104 and toll-free is: (800) 928-0256

 

Hospice Care

Iowa Hospice Care

Iowa Hospice Organization
100 East Grand Avenue, Suite 120
Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 243-1046
Fax: (515) 283-9366

or:

Hospice of Central Iowa
(see Memorials/Charities, this section, for web address)
204 S. Jefferson
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

Phone: 1-888-385-4472

Grief Support

Fairfield Support Groups

CARING FRIENDS REACHING OUT- This is a self-help support group for parents and grandparents who have lost children or grandchildren or anyone who has lost a loved one through death.

It is designed for them to retell their stories, offer support and friendship to other grieving persons, listen with understanding, to be sensitive to the needs of others, and to create an atmosphere of openness, honesty and confidentiality.There are educational programs given by speakers, videos and handouts, a lot of discussions and sharing of feelings.

Meetings are the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, at 7 PM in the Jefferson County Hospital Extended Care Dining Room.

For further information, please contact Bernita Pettit at (641) 472-5286.

In addition, http://www.widownet.org/ is an informational and supportive resource  for and by widows and widowers. Topics covered include grief, bereavement, recovery and other information helpful to those who have suffered the death of a spouse.

 

Places of Worship

Fairfield Area Churches & Places of Worship

This is a listing of Fairfield area churches, ministers, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

Lodging

Americ Inn

2104 S. Main Street, Fairfield, Iowa 52556  (641) 451-6600

Ask at the front desk about bereavement rates.

Americ Inn is a new facility open in March of 2012.

Best Western Fairfield Inn

AFTER SERVICE CATERING FACILITIES AND LODGING FOR OUT-OF-TOWN FAMILIES & GUESTS

Besides lodging accomodations in the Fairfield area, The Best Western Fairfield Inn also offers full catering facilities for after-the-service fellowship gatherings. If you don't have a local church affiliation, or would like an alternative,  Phone: (641) 472-2200, Fax: (641) 472-7642 or use the above link.

Other alternative lodgings in the Fairfield area:Super 8 Motel3001 W. BurlingtonFairfield, IA 52556  (641) 469-2000

Landmark Innwww.fairfieldlandmarkinn.com115 N. Main StreetFairfield, IA 52556  (641) 472-4152

Bed & BreakfastsMainstay Inn300 N. Main StreetFairfield, IA 52556  (641) 209-3300

Seven Roses Inn1208 E. BurlingtonFairfield, IA 52556  (641) 209-7077

 

Newspapers

Fairfield Ledger

The Fairfield Ledger has been part of Jefferson County and surrounding communities since 1849.

Behner Funeral Home will gladly communicate obituary information for you with newspaper personnel.

Their email address is ffledger@lisco.com or, you may contact them by phone at (641) 472-2116, or by fax at (641) 472-1916.

Memorials / Charities

Fairfield Education Foundation

Fairfield Education Foundation
403 South 20th Street
Fairfield, IA 52556

Hospice of Central Iowa

There are many community and national organizations to which a person may make a memorial contribution to honor the deceased. Among them:

American Heart Association-American Stroke
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231
Attn: Memorials & Tributes

Fairfield Public Library
104 W. Adams
Fairfield, IA 52556

The ARC of Jefferson & Nearby Counties
306 W. Harrison
Fairfield, IA 52556

American Cancer Society
55 Wilson
Fairfield, IA 52556

as well as any of the churches also listed in this Links section.

Other

Genealogical Research

For Jefferson County Genealogical Information, burial information, grave and cemetery location, contact the Jefferson County Genealogical Site, as well as the Fairfield Public Library at (641) 422-6551.