Obituaries

In Memory of
Todd Wesley Van Beck
February 15, 1952 - May 23, 2023

Visitation:
Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 12 noon until 2pm
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

Service:
2pm, Saturday, May 27, 2023
Cincinnati, College of Mortuary Science

Interment:
Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock, Iowa

Obituary for Todd W. Van Beck
Former Funeral Director and Program Director at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

Todd Wesley Van Beck. Passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Beloved father of Thomas Van Beck. Loving son of the late Thomas Anthony Tony and Norma Jean (nee Feekin) Van Beck. Dear brother of Scott (Sarah) Van Beck; and uncle of Wesley, Helen, Sam and Neil Van Beck.

Todd was a person who had a half-century love affair with both funeral and cemetery service. He willingly admitted that he was, no expert!, but also quickly admitted that there was nothing about this work and life that he did not enjoy, and have intense interest in. Todd had said: have never done a days work in my life, it has all been fun and interesting.

Todd earned his Professional Diploma in Mortuary Science in 1973 from the New England Institute of Funeral Service Arts and Sciences (MA), his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from Mount Mercy University (IA), and his Master of Arts in Religion from Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount Saint Marys Seminary). In 2005, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, (Houston, TX). Todd held several certifications and licensures, including the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), Certified Funeral Executive (CFE), and licensure in several states.

Prior to his employment as Program Director at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS), Todd served as Faculty/Director of Continuing Education at John A. Gupton College (TN); General Manager of Forest Hill Funeral Homes & Memorial Parks (TN); Director of Family Funeral Care and Public Relations at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home (GA); President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (TX); and Director of Education for the Loewen Group, Inc. (OH). His academic career began at CCMS in 1982.

Todd was an active writer and speaker internationally for many decades covering most every topic that is relevant to our profession. He authored 8 books and over 400 articles on death care topics. A historian and academician, Mr. Van Beck grew up in Southwestern Iowa and declared at the young age of 5 years old that he would become a funeral director when he grew up. As he often said, he was still growing up, still learning, still trying to make some kind or worthy contribution to his beloved profession. Todd operated funeral homes, cemeteries, and mortuary colleges during his career. Todd selflessly served the death care profession in many arenas across the nation and internationally, which satisfied his desire to see the world. He was thrilled and humbled to return to CCMS where he planned to continue his mission until retirement.

Visitation will occur on Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 12 noon until 2 PM at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, 645 W North Bend Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45224. A Masonic Blue Lodge service will begin at 2 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life service.

Interment will take place at 2 PM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship Fund at CCMS Donate

Todd Van Beck has been featured by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association in a multipart article. The article has been reprinted with permission.

A Born Undertaker

interview by Susan Loving, managing editor, ICFM



Todd W. Van Beck is one of the best known and most well regarded educators, writers and speakers in the funeral profession. His book, Winning Ways, and the articles he frequently contributes to trade magazines illustrate Van Becks seemingly limitless ability to come up with simple yet innovative ways to improve a funeral home and his knack for explaining good business practices in a down-to-earth, step-by-step way.

Want to feel good about the funeral profession? Go to a seminar where Todd Van Beck is speaking. You will laugh, you will cry and most important, you’ll learn. His style is humorous and self-deprecating, his language often colorful, but what always shines through is his passion for and belief in the importance of funeral service.



During a recent trip to speak at a state funeral directors convention, Van Beck spent several hours talking to ICFM about his life and career and giving his opinions on a wide variety of topics, including todays Entertainment Tonight funerals, industry critics, the key to success in the funeral business, the funeral vs. the cemetery side of the business, the increase in the number of women in funeral service and personalization.

But before the commentary comes the background — how Van Beck got into funeral service, the jobs he’s had and what he’s learned from them. These are the stories he tells on himself, the ones that make him seem approachable to even the most neophyte funeral director attending his or her first educational seminar.

Unlike many in the funeral and cemetery business, Van Beck was not born into it — at least not in the sense of having had parents who were funeral directors. But perhaps the most telling words uttered by a man of many, many words, the ones that should comprise the title of his autobiography, should he decide to write one, are these: I came out of the womb an undertaker.

























































































































































































































































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Van Beck, Todd Wesley (May 23, 2023). The death care profession lost an icon in funeral service on May 23rd with the passing of Todd Van Beck. Beloved father of Thomas. Son of the late Tony and Norma (nee Feekin). Brother of Scott (Sarah) Van Beck; uncle of Wesley, Helen, Sam and Neil Van Beck. Todd was a person who had a half-century love affair with both funeral and cemetery service. He willingly admitted that he was no “expert!” and also quickly admitted that there was nothing about this work and life that he did not enjoy, and in which he did not have intense interest. Todd had said: “I have never done a day’s work in my life; it has all been fun and interesting.” Todd was uniquely gifted and took great pride in providing reverent care for the dead and compassionate care for the living. Todd earned his Professional Diploma in Mortuary Science in 1973 from the New England Institute of Funeral Service Arts and Sciences (MA), his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from Mount Mercy University (IA), and his Master of Arts in Religion from Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary). In 2005, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, (Houston, TX). Todd held several certifications and licensures, including the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), Certified Funeral Executive (CFE) and licensure in several states. Prior to his employment as Program Director at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS), Todd served as Faculty/Director of Continuing Education at John A. Gupton College (TN); General Manager of Forest Hill Funeral Homes & Memorial Parks (TN); Director of Family Funeral Care and Public Relations at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home (GA); President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (TX); Director of Education for the Loewen Group, Inc. (OH), and Director of Education for Trust 100. His academic career began at CCMS in 1982. Todd was an active writer and prominent international speaker in the profession. He authored 8 books and over 400 articles on death care topics. An avid historian and academician, Mr. Van Beck grew up in Southwestern Iowa and declared at the young age of 5 that he would become a funeral director one day. Todd operated funeral homes, cemeteries and mortuary colleges during his career. Todd selflessly served the death care profession in many arenas across the nation and internationally, which satisfied his desire to see the world. An Abraham Lincoln scholar, he was an expert in the deaths of United States presidents and authored a presentation about each of the funerals of the deceased American presidents. He was thrilled and humbled to return to CCMS and his cherished Queen City where he planned to continue his mission until retirement. Todd served on the boards of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, the William Howard Taft National Birthplace Site, and the Funeral Service Foundation of the National Funeral Director Association. Visitation will occur on Saturday, May 27 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00p at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. A Masonic Service will begin at 2:00p followed by a celebration of life service. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, from Noon to 2:00 PM at the Hancock Methodist Church, Hancock, Iowa followed by a service at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Hancock, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship Fund at CCMS. Arrangements are being made by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in conjunction with Vorhis and Ryan Funeral Homes. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting with arrangements in Iowa. Interment in Iowa will occur on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. To send a flower arrangement to the family of Todd Wesley Van Beck, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Services Visitation Tuesday, May 30, 2023 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Hancock United Methodist Church 204 East Kimball Street Hancock, Iowa 51536 Funeral Service Tuesday, May 30, 2023 2:00 PM Hancock United Methodist Church












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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