Bruce Michael Campbell

Bruce Michael Campbell

Washington

Bruce Michael Campbell, 88, of Washington, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Anthony DeVaughn officiating. Visitation will begin 2 p.m. Monday, June 19, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Interment with military honors will be held at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials may be made in Bruce’s honor to the United Methodist Church/Ukrainian Relief. Online condolences may be sent for the family at www.jonesfh.com.

Bruce Michael Campbell, son of Herbert Lawrence and Neva (Stacy) Campbell, was born March 22, 1935, at the Campbell home outside of Brighton, Iowa. Dr. McCreedy delivered Bruce. He attended a one-room school near Ainsworth, Iowa. Mrs. Wittrig, the teacher, stayed with the Campbells, and one night Bruce put tacks in her bed. The next morning, his pant legs were sewn shut.

In 1953, Bruce graduated from Washington High School and went to Iowa State College where he received a degree in agriculture education. While in college, he was a member of Acacia Fraternity and proudly served as President of that organization. Bruce and Sonja Carlborg were united in marriage on July 27, 1957, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Evanston, Illinois. They enjoyed more than 65 years of marriage.

Bruce was drafted into the United States Army in 1958 and served in Gelnhausen, Germany, where he and Sonja lived with a German family. Travel was high on their list. They made lifelong friends from these military connections.

During his lifetime, Bruce was a member of the Methodist Church, various agriculture organizations, and the Lions Club. Bruce and his father, Herb, farmed together for a number of years, putting into practice soil conservation measures to control erosion; tiling, terracing and building ponds were important to them.

Helping others was a passion for Bruce. An opportunity to help farming in Ukraine presented itself in 1991. Bruce and son Brad were instrumental in introducing the production and marketing of soybeans from Ukraine to the world market. They also introduced growing sweet corn to Ukraine.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Sonja “Sonny” Campbell of Washington, IA; daughter, Marcia (Brad) Hildebrand and their children Amy, Kate and Scott of Plymouth, MN; son, David (Mitsue) Campbell of Milwaukee, WI; son, Brad (Olena) Campbell and their children, Sophia and Maria of Ames, Iowa; and daughter, Susan (John) Parks and their children, Ashleigh, Kyle and Tyler of Caldwell, TX. Bruce is also survived by his brother, Rodney (Barbara) Campbell of Eugene, Oregon; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Larry; and one sister, Linda.