Obit: Campbell, Edward George (1936 – 2009)

Contact: Duane Horn

Email: capperhorn@centurytel.net

Surnames: Campbell, Michaelson, Mantik, Clemmerson, Clemmenson, La Pointe, Christianson, Berit, Smith, Rehberg, Wilcox, Howard, Harris

----Source: La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wis.) Saturday, 22 Aug. 2009, Page B3

Campbell, Edward George (10 May 1936 – 20 Aug. 2009)

Edward George Campbell of Onalaska went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center with his family surrounding him.

Born in La Crosse on May 10, 1936, Ed was the son of Edward and Mildred Campbell. He was raised in the Black River Falls area and was called into the ministry when he was a young boy. He began preaching when he was 16, and in 1954, he enrolled in North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. While there, he met and married Jo Ann Michaelson, whom he always called the woman of his dreams.

Their first pastorate was in Dodgeville, Wis., in 1957; from there, they went on to pastor in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and the Carolinas. Over a lifetime of ministry together, Ed and Jo Ann were involved in many different avenues of Ministry, including the operation of a Christian youth center in Sparta called His Place and their travels as full-time evangelists.

For the past seven years, Ed and Jo Ann, as "The Joy Singers," have visited 22 nursing homes in the LaCrosse Area on a daily/weekly basis. Ed played guitar, Jo Ann played piano and they both sang hymns and choruses. The nursing home residents frequently expressed their great appreciation for the Campbells' ministry.

Ed is survived by Jo Ann, his wife of 53 years, and their children, Tim (Berit) Campbell of Minneapolis, Mark (Nancy) Campbell of La Crosse, Phil (Carol) Campbell of Germantown, Wis., Becky (the Rev. Steve) Smith of Smithfield, N. C., Ruth (Arnold) Rehberg of Alma Center, Wisc., Debbie (the Rev. Randy) Mantik of Portage, Wis., and his "like a son" Ron (Debbie) Wilcox of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. There are also 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two sisters, Cheryl (Douglas) Howard and Carol Harris, both of Minneapolis; and two brothers, Joseph Clemmenson and Phil (Mary) Clemmenson, also of Minneapolis.

Ed was preceded in death by his father, Edward George Campbell Sr.; his mother, Mildred Campbell Clemmerson (nee La Pointe); his stepfather, Clifford Clemmerson; is sister, Rita (Campbell) Christianson; and his infant sister, Ruth Clemmerson.

He was a gift to all who knew him and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Aug. 22, at Rivers Harvest Church, 1001 Quincy St., Onalaska. The Revs. Randy Mantik and Steve Smith will officiate, Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery, Shamrock, Wis. Friends may call at the church today from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting the family.