Robert Irving (Bob) Campbell, age 90, passed away at home in De Pere early Wednesday morning, May 20, 2015. Bob was born on September 10, 1924 in Waukesha, WI, the son of Elsie Jean (MacNamara) and Irving Earl Campbell. At the age of eight, the family moved to Sheboygan where Bob attended school, graduating from Sheboygan Central High School.
Following high school, Bob briefly attended Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) before enlisting in the Naval Air Corp in 1943. He served his country in WWII as a flying boat pilot and afterwards in the Naval Reserves, until his honorable discharge at the rank of Lieutenant (J.G.).
Bob attended the University of Minnesota between 1946 and 1948, graduating June, 1948 with a Bachelors in Business Administration. He made longstanding friendships as a lifelong member of Beta Theta Pi, initiated as a Beta member on January 17, 1946.
Bob married Virginia Lou (Ginny) Pickhardt on June 30, 1951 in Minneapolis, MN and they had five children. Ginny passed away in De Pere on November 6, 1997. Bob was blessed to find a second love and married Dee Carroll on December 26, 2003, with whom he shared his love of travel among other things.
Bob spent much of his working life in furniture sales. His work required frequent moves, beginning his career with Simmons Co. in Detroit, MI, with subsequent moves to Bowling Green, OH; Flint, MI; North Little Rock, AR; Sheboygan, WI (American Chair Co.); Fair Haven, NJ (Thonet Co.); Lake Zurich, IL; and eventually to De Pere, WI in 1973 to join Prange's Business Interiors. In 1984, Bob founded his own business, Campbell's Contract Ltd., retiring in 2011.
Bob was proud of his family and his Scottish heritage, visiting Scotland twice. He had a great zest for life and a life-long affinity for water sports from diving team in high school to sailing, fishing, etc. Other sport interests included golf, downhill skiing, biking and racquetball. He was a member for 40-plus years of the Green Bay YMCA with a 3-times-a-week commitment as an avid racquetball player. He also enjoyed his volunteer work at St. Johns Shelter in Green Bay.
Bob is survived by his wife, Dee Carroll; his children: Donna Jean (Thomas) Phelps, Scott E. Campbell, Michael I. (Laura) Campbell, Robert M. (Denise) Campbell; his grandchildren: Justin R. (Kristin) McCabe, Andrea L. (Dan) Egbert, Rosemary A. (Daniel) O'Connell; and his great grandchildren: Calan McCabe and Nora McCabe.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Virginia; a daughter, Marianne (David Smith) Campbell; his siblings, Jean (William) Gunther and Betty Ann (Gordon) Osborn; and his beloved dogs.
Friends may call at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family, 1307 Lourdes Avenue, De Pere, WI, on Saturday, May 30th from 9 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM, celebrated by Father Tim Shillcox, O. Praem. Interment will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan, WI.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Bob's name.
