John Donald Campbell

John Donald Campbell was born on December 21, 1926 and passed away on September 22, 2015 in Chilliwack at the age of 88 years. Dad was born in Manitoba. He was the second youngest in the family of five. Three sisters, Annie, Margaret and Elizabeth and one brother Melville.

His Dad died of cancer when John was only 2 years old. Melville was a 6 month old baby. His Mom moved the family to live with her bachelor brother Willie who operated a farm. When Dad was only 12 years old, he left home and worked with a crew on a big farm. He slept in the bunk house. He said he worked like a man but some nights cried himself to sleep.

During World War II, Dad signed up for the Army. He was under 18 but somehow was accepted. He took his training in Ontario. When he completed his training as a soldier, the War came to an end. He had the option of staying in the Service or receiving an honourable discharge. He chose the discharge. He went back to working on farms and also worked in forestry in Valemont, BC. for a time.

He met his first wife Ann through his cousin Gordon. They married in 1953. Ann already had a daughter (Ruth) who Dad adopted legally. They went on to have 4 more children, Raymond and Iris and the youngest being fraternal twins, Steven and Lynda. They moved to BC from Saskatchewan in 1956. Dad worked at sawmills and Mom stayed at home with the children.

Dad was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to fish and hunt and camp. We spent many weekends camping at Cultus Lake.

Mom died very suddenly from a brain aneurysm in December 1971. She was only 44 years old.

After being a single dad for 3 years, he met his second wife, Evelyn. They married in 1974. She had 6 kids from her first marriage. They loved to tell people that they had 11 kids! Evelyn took on the Campbell kids along with her own. She was a very loving and caring Mom and Grandma. He and Evelyn were very social and had many parties in their home. In later years they had a holiday home at Paradise Valley in Washington State. Many family and friend gatherings occurred there. As John and Evelyn's health started failing they sold the family home and moved into a senior's assisted apartment in White Rock for a few years. While there, Evelyn died of a heart attack.

Dad soon moved to a senior's assisted apartment in Chilliwack to be closer to his son Steve and wife Doris who were his care givers in many areas of his life. His health continued to fail and in 2014 he moved to Eden Care Home in Chilliwack. He died there on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. He dearly loved all his family.

Dad is lovingly remembered by his children; Ruth Lunn (Rick), Ray Campbell (Norah Lodonez), Iris Goodale (Raymond), Steven Campbell (Doris), Lynda White (Oren Crosslands) and by his step children; Ron Gervais (deceased), Pat Gervais (Joyce), Jim Gervais (deceased), Faye Heatherington (Bob), Stephen Gervais and Karen Jarvis (Julian Bellamy), his grandchildren; Danny and Wendy, Trevor, Lori and Joe, Diane, Rob and Julie, Stephanie, Lisa, Kyle, Brody, Kate, Wesley (deceased), Cindi, Brent, Jennifer and Ian and also by many great grandchildren and nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his first wife Ann, second wife Evelyn, brother Melville and sisters Annie Margaret and Elizabeth.

A Funeral Service and Tea will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Woodlawn Mt Cheam Funeral Home, 45865 Hocking Avenue, Chilliwack with Pastor Mike Roth officiating. Memorial donations may be made in John Campbell's name to the Canadian Cancer Society.