William Campbell

William Campbell obituary, Clive, IA

William Campbell

William Campbell Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by The Cremation Society of Iowa - Des Moines on Mar. 3, 2025.

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If you stood beside him in a trout stream, or saw him swing a club on the course, or a racket on the court, or watched him sink a basket, you saw a man whose skill matched his joy of being with you.
If you sat at the table with cards in hand playing pitch, cribbage or poker, and heard him laugh and cheer, then you knew that being with you was almost better than winning.
If you worked with him at Proctor and Gamble, IBM, or The Paper Corp, you witnessed his integrity, tenacity and ability to do the job right.
If you heard him champion the underserved or help a child read or listened to his ideas on making the world better or saw him stand ever so long in line to vote for Kamala Harris, then you knew his worth.
If you helped him face health challenges with courage and determination, then hopefully it will help you face your own.
If your name is Dr. Richard Gloor, Dr. Robert Hoyt, Dr. Kathy Elsner, Dr. Ryan Tomlinson, know that you gave him more time to live the life he chose.
If you felt the love his family gave him and had for them, wife, Judy, sister Nancy, daughters Trini and Jill, grandchildren Cassidy, Will and Sadie, sisters-in-law Dottie and Vicki, brothers-in-law Bill and Mel, sons-in-law Wyatt and Steve, nieces and nephews, then you know how happy and proud he was.
He wanted you to know a few highlights of his life saying coaching his girls and team in Little League softball, the distinction he was honored with of being All Conference in basketball in high school at 16 in Illinois and at 17 in Nebraska, and meeting a girl in college who needed a friend like him and that giving her a gift wrapped toothbrush would lead to 59 years of their toothbrushes being side by side.
Wyatt wrote, "The desire to keep living the good life through life's challenges is to me what makes a hero."
If a life worth living could be measured in laughter, bravery, gratitude, it would look like the life of a man named William Reid Campbell, born with twin brother David, on May 21, 1940, in Brooklyn New York and who died on February 25, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.
A family gathering is planned in the spring in Dorchester, Iowa, where his ashes will be scattered by the still waters. From the Hymn of Promise, "There's a song in every silence seeking word and melody. There's a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me."
At this time no other services are planned.
If you wish to give to his memorial, please send checks to Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, 1915 Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Checks addressed to Golden K Kiwanis.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign William Campbell's Guest Book

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April 3, 2025

The Knowler Family planted trees.

March 10, 2025

Shirley West posted to the memorial.

March 8, 2025

Shirley West planted trees.

Single Memorial Tree

The Knowler Family

Planted Trees

Shirley West

March 10, 2025

I had the pleasure of witnessing the gift of the toothbrush that began Judy and Bill´s joyful life together.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Shirley West

Planted Trees

Single Memorial Tree

Shirley West

Planted Trees

Robert Fritz

March 7, 2025

Dear Judy,

My wife, Germaine, and I were saddened to hear of Bill´s passing. We have not had much contact over the years, but it sounds like he was quite a man. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of visits with Bill, Dave, and Nancy at the farm in Batavia - watching the boys play AAU baseball - playing catch in the field - watching one of the boys shoot a huge snapping turtle at the far end of the pond - listening to ghost stories in the little trailer they had in the yard and covering the light with a pillow for atmosphere which unfortunately started smoldering and filled the trailer with smoke so we had to get out! When they came east, it was trips to the ocean and walks to the corner store for candy. Bill was always so kind to his pudgy, uncoordinated, younger cousin. He was so cool; I literally idolized him.

With deepest sympathy,
Bob and Germaine Fritz

Joe and Libby Sassano

March 6, 2025

Libby and I are so sorry to hear about Bill´s passing. I know he was an amazing person and will be missed by all. We saw very little of each other during our 75 years together on this planet, but that was primarily due to geography - our families always lived many hundreds of miles apart. That did not diminish the love my family all felt for the Campbells.

My fondest recollection of Bill, and his twin brother, Dave, was late 1950´s when the Campbell family came to visit at our home in White Plains, NY. I believe I was about 10 years old, Bill and Dave about 19 and sister Nancy maybe 16. The first thing I did was develop a massive crush on my beautiful cousin Nancy and began a serious campaign to get our families to move closer together. Alas, I failed in this project. The second thing I distinctly recall from this visit, was the day Bill, Dave, and I went for a long, hot walk through our White Plains Holbrook Road neighborhood. Imagine me, a little 10 year old hanging out with my very cool, very grown up and incredibly good looking older cousins. The walk was topped when in a moment of summer over-heating the "men" flagged down the local Dellwood milk delivery truck and produced enough cash for a couple of quarts of the most delicious icy, cold chocolate milk I had ever had. Who knew you could buy milk from the delivery truck, and who carried around cash in 1959. This act cemented my forever admiration for these great cousins and I will always regret that we didn´t do more to get our families together as life unfolded over the years.

For those who don´t know me, my mother, Eleanor Turnbull Sassano was the youngest of the four Turnbull daughters and was the baby sister of Bill, Dave and Nancy Campell´s mom, my Aunt Kay, and her wonderful husband Reid Campbell.

Eco-Friendly Memorial Trees

Annie and Kathy lucs

Planted Trees

Bob and Nancy Pentico

March 6, 2025

Judy, Nancy and I are so sad to learn of Bill's passing. He was a caring friend and YMBC brother. We have many memories of our time together which we will cherish. I remember when Bill was my Asst. Coach for my son's basketball team. He not only contributed his Basketball knowledge to the team, he was a calming voice when I thought a referee made a questionable call. That was Bill to a "T". All who knew him will miss him dearly. Wishing you strength as you go through this tough time.
Love you.
Bob and Nancy Pentico

susan sassano livada

March 5, 2025

dear judy, i just heard from my cousin, nancy, that bill passed away. i´m so sorry to hear this. i always thought of him (and dave) as my grown-up, very cool, very handsome cousins, and always wished we had gotten together with all you campbells more often. we send our deep sympathies.
susan and val livada

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The Cremation Society of Iowa - Des Moines

2135 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315

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Sign William Campbell's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

April 3, 2025

The Knowler Family planted trees.

March 10, 2025

Shirley West posted to the memorial.

March 8, 2025

Shirley West planted trees.