Date of Birth:
Wednesday, October 21, 1914
Date of Death:
Monday, December 13, 2010
Age:
96 years old

George F. Campbell

The Funeral Mass for George F. Campbell will be at 10:30 AM on Friday December 17, 2010 at St. Pius X Church in Rochester.  Rev. Charles Collins will be celebrant, burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Campbell passed away at Golden Living East in Rochester on Dec. 13, 2010.

George Franklin Campbell was born to James Franklin and Emma Sabina (Hess) Campbell in his Grandfather’s house at Avilla, Indiana on Oct. 21, 1914.  He was raised nearby, in Garrett, Indiana, a B&O Railroad town, in a railroading family.   He graduated from Garrett High School and attended Hanover College.  He decided shoveling coal from Garrett to Chicago and back daily, as a locomotive fireman, would not be for him, and left Garrett to seek his fortune in California.  He never made it there, as he stopped in Rochester, to visit his sister Virginia, who was in nurse training at St. Mary’s.  While there, he met his future wife, Mary Emily Macken.

They were married at St. John’s Catholic Church on November 8, 1938.  They moved to Minneapolis during the war, where George was a welder in a defense plant.  Post war, George entered the sales field, starting with Northern States Power in Mankato, and subsequently retiring after a good career with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in Rochester.

Scouting was always a big interest in his life, he earned the Eagle Scout Badge in 1933.  He had been at separate times, Scoutmaster for 2 different Boy Scout Troops in Rochester. All his children were active in Scouts, with two of his boys also reaching Eagle Scout. He was a past Grand Knight of the Howard Gentling Knight Of Columbus Council and a Past President of the Rochester Life Underwriters.

After retiring, he was also Sexton of Calvary Cemetery for several years.  He and Mary Emily were also Charter Members of St. Pius X Church. An avid fisherman his whole life, he enjoyed organizing a large all men and boys, annual Memorial Day Weekend family fishing trip, up to Leech Lake and later to Lake Winnibigoshish.  In later years, he enjoyed weekly trips to the river fishing with friends Les Byers and Howard Brandt, or his nephew Tim Macken.

George was preceded in death by a grandson, Derek Campbell, and his sisters, June Rose Riedhart and VIrginia Neidra Currin. He is survived by his wife Mary Emily; sons Richard J. (Martha) Campbell of Fremont, NE,  Robert G.(Florence) Campbell of SIoux City, IA, David D.(Patricia) Campbell of Plymouth, MN, Mark S.(Ann) Campbell of Minneapolis, MN and a daughter Mary Beth (Martin) Gores of Prior Lake, MN and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great – great grandchildren.

Friends may call from 5:00PM to 8:00PM Thursday in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Memorials are suggested to Lourdes High School Building Fund. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.