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.