Dr. John Ashley Campbell

Dr. John Ashey Campbell was born in Belleville, Ont. January 21, 1929, by Mable and Mathew Campbell. John’s own father Mathew passed away when he was only 16 years old. John was deeply affected and deeply wounded in his heart by his father’s death. His own mother “Mable Helen Campbell” loved and adored young “John Ashey Campbell.” She financed John’s way through university and chiropractic college.

John graduated in 1955 as a chiropractor around the same time his wife “Shirley” gave birth to their first child Kathey and followed five others: Sandra, Bryce, John, Victor and Laura.

During these years, John became increasingly stressed and suffered a breakdown in 1963. By 1966, the family had split up. John did a lot of soul searching and traveling over the next few years. By 1970, John had a more severe breakdown and ended up in a recovery program near Regina, Saskatchewan. He had a strength and strong will and went on to recover.

In 1971, he came to Fergus, ON. to visit his family for the first time since 1966. During that visit, he talked individually to each of his children. When it came to my turn (his son John), he expressed deeply his sadness and sorrow for not being there and explained that he had to return to the recovery centre for more treatment.

From then on, he quickly recovered and at the same time, met a lady named Dianna who became his wife. They spent most of the 1970’s in San Diego helping young people to get off of drugs and alcohol. By 1985, they returned to the Belleville area and continued helping young people and was very active as a support volunteer for the AA group.

In 1987, they had a child named Sahra. John’s second marriage ended in1992. At this same time he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was operated on with total success thus giving up his Export A regular for a much lighter brand.

A few months after his operation, he moved to Kitchener, where he lived out his remaining days at the Millwood Manor Care Centre on Mill St.

He continued working out at the YMCA right up to 2006. He often made good friends at the YMCA and often counseled many young people through there emotional and relationship problems, making practical use of his intense interest in psychology. His favourite phrase was “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

John spent his last three years at the Golden Years Nursing Home on Eagle St in Cambridge. The loving and caring staff at Gold Years treated John in a very special way and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you and a special thanks to John’s best friend Ken Bain who despite his own hardships with cancer was very caring and supportive of John. They loved watching their old time movies together. Thank you Ken and God bless you.

John’s final worlds were “there are no atheists on a sinking ship. God please let the pain end, please let it end. Hold my hand John and say prayers for me …! I said, “Of course” and held his hand until he passed out that night of March 1st and passed away in his sleep at 6:04 that morning. He was brought back to life within minutes by the staff at Cambridge Hospital. At 1:45 p.m. that afternoon, his life support was gently and gradually withdrawn. My good friend Mia and her 2 daughters Zennet and Merita stayed by his side saying prayers with the assistance of a chapel lady named Theresa. I put my hand on his shoulder and held his hand during this time. His final breath was at 2:27 that afternoon. You will be missed, John. Take care in your new Kingdom.

By John Campbell Jr.

My father was a poet and a romantic and his poetry was genius. (from his youngest daughter Lara Lyn)