Bruce Kevin Campbell

It is with profound sadness that the family of Bruce Kevin Campbell, aged 74, announce his passing on May 19, 2023. Bruce, a native of Faribault, Minnesota, and a long-time resident of San Diego, California, was the son of Marvin Campbell and Elaine Gretz Campbell. Bruce was born July 28, 1948. He is preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother Scott Vincent Campbell and the younger of his two sons, Gregory Scott Campbell. Bruce is survived by his wife of fifty-one years Kaye Rauk Campbell, his daughter Mariana Campbell Levin and husband Aaron Levin, grandson Akiva and granddaughter Juliana, his son Robert Bruce Campbell, as well as siblings Victoria Campbell Siso and husband Daniel Siso, David Campbell and partner Louisa Greenstock, Max Campbell and wife Miki Orr Campbell, and many nieces and nephews.

Bruce attended Immaculate Conception Elementary and Bethlehem Academy High School in Faribault, graduating in the class of 1966. In his early life he was very involved with Boy Scouts, his paper route, and model United Nations. Bruce attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, earning his B.A. in government and history in 1970. He enlisted in the Navy in 1970 and received training as a dental assistant in San Diego after his basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. In 1972, he married Kaye Rauk at Vang Lutheran Church near Dennison, Minnesota. Kaye was the love of his life and they were loving partners throughout the fifty-one years of their marriage.

When he was stationed at Great Lakes in Illinois, he realized that dentistry was a career calling for him. He graduated from dental school at University of Illinois, Chicago in 1981. His first post as a Navy dentist was in Beaufort, South Carolina (1982-1983). Subsequently, he was stationed in Sigonella, Sicily (1983-1986), Fredericksburg, Virginia (1986-1990), and San Diego (1990-2003). After retiring from active duty, he continued working as a contractor for the Navy until 2018.

Bruce had a wide variety of interests, and he was most at home in nature. He was an avid birder, with a life list of over six hundred North American birds. Geography and maps were a lifelong passion, as were collecting stamps and coins. Bruce and his wife Kaye enjoyed traveling, and Bruce took particular pleasure in planning out their trips all over the world together. Although he never played an instrument, he was committed to nurturing his children's musical education, with each of them learning multiple instruments. Having been active in scouting himself, he was very proud that his two sons became Eagle Scouts. He read voraciously, for many years setting a goal for himself to read fifty-two books a year. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, Akiva and Juliana, passing on his love of reading and nature.

Bruce was a founding member of Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido, where he took on many roles over the years. He was a lay chaplain as part of the congregational caring circle. He enjoyed participating in the reader's theater and men's groups. Together with his wife and son, he loved hosting elaborate themed parties at their home, many of them as fundraisers for the congregation.

Bruce passed away peacefully in Minneapolis, surrounded by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his siblings, many nieces and nephews, and other close family members. Bruce will forever be remembered as a gentle person with great wit who exuded honesty and the utmost integrity.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life at Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido on January 6, 2024. All family and friends are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (https://givenow.lls.org/) in Bruce's memory.