History & Staff

Joseph S. Campbell, Owner - Funeral Director/Embalmer

Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home is Co-Owned by Joe Campbell. Joe is a professional funeral director and embalmer with 20+ years experience and an associate of applied science degree in funeral service.He graduated from The Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1998. While in Dallas he served as class president for his graduating class. He chose funeral service because he was interested in the biological sciences and wanted to make a difference and help people in their time of need. Joe grew up in Warsaw, Missouri. He has been married to his wife Cyndi since 1991. He has two children, a daughter, Rikki Jo Campbell Henson and a son, Hayden Campbell. Joe moved back to Holden in early 2012 to work for the Cast family, and looks forward to serving the wonderful community of Holden.

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Cynthia Campbell, Co-Owner

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Michael R Wakeman, Funeral Associate

Michael has lived in Holden all his life. After leaving the Holden Police Department in 2006, Michael went to work as a Fire Equipment Salesman. Michael is the Pastor of New Life Fellowship Baptist Church and works part-time since July 2008 for Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home as a funeral attendant. Michael feels working at the funeral home is his way of giving back to the people in the Community which he cares for so much.
In August of 2014, Michael and his wife Rhonda purchased the Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral with Joseph and Cyndi Campbell.

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L. E. (Gene) Ferguson, Office Manager

Gene Ferguson grew up in Strasburg, MO, and graduated from Kingsville High School.

Gene served in the U.S. Air Force from February 1965 to October 1968, spending most of that time in England.

In December 1968, he was employed by the U.S. Post Office in Kansas City, MO and worked there until the fall of 1973 when he came to Holden to work full time in the family business at the Ferguson Greenhouse and flower shop. He closed the business and retired in 2005. Gene is a member of the Strasburg Union Church where he also serves as Deacon and song leader. He now works part time for Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral home.

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Patty McCloud, Office Staff

Patty has worked at the funeral home since February 2015. Patty lives in Kingsville Missouri.

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Daniel B. Cast, Funeral Director

Daniel (Dan) B. Cast, 3rd generation Holden resident, graduated from Holden High School, received a BA degree from Westminster College, Fulton, MO, and a MA degree from University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO, and graduated from Mortuary School at University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, KS. Licensed embalmer and funeral director in Missouri and Kansas. Daniel Cast is the Father of Kathy Romero, Lori Dodson, Sophie Rojas, and Betsy Cast, seven grandchildren.

Dan served in the US Army in Italy 1969-1972, is past president of Holden Chamber of Commerce, Holden Library Board, Holden Industrial Development Corporation, Holden Optimist Club, Administrative Board and Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church, Past Master of Holden Masonic Lodge, and has served on the Board of Directors of Survival Adult Abuse Center for over 9 years.

The son of Ben and Gene Cast, Dan has been involved in the funeral home all of his life, and has owned and operated the business since 1983. Dan sold the business August 2014 to the current owners Michael & Rhonda Wakeman and Joseph and Cyndi Campbell.

He currently works as a consultant and Funeral Director at the funeral home and continues to own and operate Cast Monuments. Dan is still available to assist families in their time of need and looks forward for the opportunity to work with each family when called upon.

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