It's unbelievable that you've been gone seven years now. I know that you're in Heaven, watching over us all. We love you, and still miss you terribly. Love you, Grandpa! ❤❤❤

I still miss you every day and wish you were here to talk things over with. I miss the trips to Walmart and the movies we would go to see together. I love you Pap.

Grandpa,

It's been one year since you've been gone, and I still miss you so much. I wish we would have had more time with you. I wish Rachel and I would have lived closer so we could have seen you more often, but I will always cherish the memories of all the fun times we had together. I wish you would have had a chance to meet Abigail, but I know in my heart that you are still with all of us, and are watching over us. You were such a great man, and I am proud to say that you were my grandpa! I love you and miss you!

I have met many people in my life. Most have influenced me and help me become who I am today. Some were women, some were men, and some were giants. These giants have greatly influenced me. They have changed the course of my life forever. Donald Kampf was a giant. A giant among men. I learned many things from being around him. He would do anything he could to help another person out. That was his way. You needed to talk and he would listen. When you were done he would talk. Never judging, never pushing, and always helpful. Perhaps one day, through the love and compassion shown by this giant among men, I too can become a giant in anothers eyes. Thank you Don for everything you have done for me. These acts of kindness you have shown me will never be forgot. Rest in Peace my friend.

On September 4, 2010, I lost my hero, my friend, My Pap. My Mom and her siblings lost their father. My Dad lost his best friend. My siblings and cousins lost their grandfather and many others lost a great friend. He was the greatest man I ever knew. He taught me so many things. There were so many things left for all of us to learn. 
 He taught me about patience. When to hold back and say nothing and when to speak. To be honest, I haven't quite mastered it yet. He always said I talked to much, guess that may never change.
 He taught me how to be strong, how to take care of myself and my family, to depend on myself. To be a person people can depend on. Sometimes though like my Pap, I learned to be to strong and I don't always ask for help.
 He taught me about true love. He loved my grandmother so much and no amount of time ever changed that. He made me want that kind of love. To not settle for anything but that. That to love is also to handle a person's faults as well as their good traits. To look beyond the way a person looks and to see through to the whole person. To stand by someone and to work things out even when it feels like there is no point in staying together. That sometimes things do work out. 
 He taught me about hope. No matter what I was going through he always helped me find something to hope for. Something to keep me going, no matter how tough the situation.
 He taught me about faith. After he lost my grandmother he was upset but he found his way back to his faith and tried to make me see the importance of having faith. Of having something to believe in. He was never pushy always tried to let me make up my own mind about things.
 He taught me to be unselfish. To help people when and if I could. My mother also has a lot of this trait and I know she also gets it from him. He was very supportive of my parents and the volunteering that they do. He always helped when he could. He gave many things to his children, grandchildren and even his great grandchildren. He never held back. His greatest gift was Love. He was never selfish with his love.
 He taught me how to enjoy life. To enjoy good food, too not be afraid to try new things. He was the one who helped me overcome my fear of heights as a child, pushing me until I was no longer afraid, always staying by my side. He always wanted me to never back down from a challenge. To do my best at everything I attempted.
 He taught me about loyalty. He was extremely loyal to his family, to his wife, to his friends and to his faith.
 I long to become the kind of person he wanted me to be. To live the kind of life he wanted for me. To make him and my parents proud. He wanted all of us to be happy to live full lives as he did.
 These are only a few of the many things he taught me. He was the rock that kept our whole family together and without him it is left up to us to stay as one. I know it is what he would have wanted. He loved his family. He lived each day for each one of us. If any of us needed anything and he had it. He would give it to you few questions asked. He was rarely selfish, and always caring.
 When I was lost, he helped me find the way back. We took care of each other, did many things together: movies, shopping and going to the flea market to name a few. My favorite thing though was sitting down to dinner each night with him, always side by side. And when it was time, he let me go even though he knew he was going to miss me.
 Now it is my turn to let him go. I know I will miss him terribly and I will always have the urge to call or to visit. But I believe that I will see him again one day and that I will be able to hug him again. Until then I will keep him alive inside my heart. I will remember all the wonderful memories he gave me and I hope you will do the same. I will pass the stories onto my children and they will pass them unto their children that way he will always be with us. Keeping us strong, giving us hope. Making us feel loved and never alone.  
 I love you Pap. Rest in Peace. Until I see you again.

Marian Michelle (Kampf) Clark

OBITUARY

Donald John Kampf

19 January, 1933 – 4 September, 2010

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