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The Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SWVMC) near Union Grove provides a final resting place for veterans and creates a lasting memorial to their achievement and sacrifices.

Situated on state-owned farmland at the Southern Wisconsin Center, the 105-acre cemetery site encompasses gently rolling hills with serene, natural beauty. As a lasting tribute to those who served in the armed forces, the cemetery will remind future generations that veterans were instrumental in preserving our nation's freedom.

Ground breaking occurred on Memorial Day May 24th, 1996. The cemetery and the administrative building were officially dedicated on May 31, 1998. The first phase of construction included burial for casket and cremation urns. Additional development will occur to accommodate needs of veterans and their families.

The cemetery administrative building, includes a committal chapel for interment services. An outdoor committal shelter is used for services when weather permits. The cemetery also hosts veterans’ events and commemorations in its ceremonial area and flag plaza.

The cemetery inters caskets and cremation urns year-round. Cremated remains may be interred either in ground or in an above ground columbarium. The government provided marker will include the veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, war period, birth date, death date and spousal information. Families also have the option of adding an additional inscription/term of endearment to their loved ones’ marker.

The cemetery is conveniently located and easily accessible from metropolitan Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha.

Administration Building/Chapel

The administration building is open to visitors Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for State holidays. The building includes the administration offices, a waiting area for families, public restrooms, an informational kiosk and a committal chapel.

Kiosk

The informational kiosk located in the administrative building will direct families to grave locations and offer information on the following items: rules and regulations of the cemetery, military funeral honors and general cemetery information.

Military Funeral Honors

The State of Wisconsin has a Military Funeral Honors Program. Please call toll-free: 1-877-944-6667 for more details.

Interment Options Available

Lawncrypts: The lawncrypt garden is the option available to the veteran and spouse who chose traditional in-ground casket burial. The gardens consist of single and double depth pre-set liners to accommodate families who prefer casket burial. The government will furnish an upright granite marker.

Urn Garden: The urn garden is one of two options available to eligible families that prefer cremation burial. A single space in the urn garden will accommodate burial of veteran and spouse. The government will furnish a flush granite marker.

Columbarium: The columbarium is the second of two options available to families that prefer cremation. The individual units that measure approximately 11” cubed in the above ground columbarium will accommodate the urns of veteran and spouse. The government supplied bronze plate serves as the marker.

Graveside Services

All committal services are held away from the designated interment site. The committal services will occur within the chapel in the administrative building or outside at the outdoor shelter. Cemetery staff will transport the casket or urn to the interment site after the committal service is concluded.

Scheduling Services

Due to the many burials, it is important that all information and verification of documents be received at least (24) working hours prior to the scheduled service.

Nov. 1 thru Mar. 15 - Interments for Mondays not received and verified by the cemetery before 12:00 noon the preceding Friday, must schedule for the next available day.

Mar.16 thru Oct. 31 - Interments for Mondays not received and verified by the cemetery before 2:00 p.m. the preceding Friday, must schedule for the next available day.

The scheduling restrictions apply to all state holidays when holidays occur on a weekday.

No funerals are scheduled after 2:30 p.m. and all interments are made immediately after the committal service.

Cemetery chapel and outdoor committal shelter are available for committal services only. The committal shelter is available as weather conditions permit. Typically the shelter is closed for services from November 1st through March 15th. Graveside services are not allowed due to safety reasons.

All viewing of veterans and family members remains are to be conducted at a funeral home or other establishment outside the state veterans cemetery. The casket is left in state until conclusion of services at the cemetery, then interred by cemetery personnel immediately after the committal service.

Any altered services must be arranged through your Funeral Director 24 hours prior to the Committal Service and coordinated with the cemetery.

Fees

The cemetery charges no fees for an eligible veteran’s gravesite, engraved headstone, or marker, opening and closing of the gravesite and perpetual care. A fee is incurred for the burial of a spouse and/or dependent. See the burial fees page.

Donations

The Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery accepts donations from families, friends, and organizations in memory of their loved ones. The donations assist in projects and beautification of the cemetery. In most instances the donation or a portion of the donation will be tax deductible, check with proper tax consultants. Various donation programs exist, please see donation brochure.

Cemetery Contact Information

Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery
21731 Spring Street
Union Grove, WI   53182
Phone: (262) 878-5660
Toll-free: 1-888-823-3789 (In-state)
Fax: (262) 878-5664
email: Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery

A brochure is available to download and print which has information about all three cemeteries.