Jane Bernadette (Hughes) Campbell, age 82, of Overland Park, Kansas, formerly of North Platte passed away peacefully Wednesday April 20, 2016 surrounded in death, as in life, by family at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Born December 8, 1933 on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, she had a lifelong and daily devotion to the Blessed Mother who we know welcomed her into the promises of the Kingdom.
She grew up on a farm near Battle Creek Nebraska where she enjoyed the love of her parents Joe and Anna Hughes and her siblings JoAnn, Helen, Mike and Howard. Upon graduating from Battle Creek High School she attended Duchesne College in Omaha earning a teaching certificate and making many lifelong friends. After a summer working in Estes Park Jane took a teaching position in Rawlins, Wyoming where she was introduced to John (Jack) Campbell on the church steps. Shortly thereafter they were engaged and married on June 12, 1956.
Deciding that railroad life was not a long term calling they decided to start an educational odyssey that would last 9 years and take them to Laramie Wyoming and Manhattan Kansas. Jane is legendary among her student housing peers for taking care of as many as 25 children in her small apartments as a way to help pay the bills. She also typed hundreds of pages of Master’s and Doctoral Thesis on a manual typewriter for Jack that could have zero mistakes. All the while she also managed three young children of her own, John, Mike and Jeannie. The family moved to Lincoln where daughter Cathy was born. In 1971 the family came full circle to North Platte, Nebraska which was home to Jack’s parents John and Cecelia and brother Jerry. They created a wonderful group of friends and strong base for the family over the next 43 years on Beverly Boulevard.
Jane was active in anything that had to do with St. Pats School, Holy Spirit Church, Catholic Daughters, her rosary group or University Extension organizations. Countless coffee cakes appeared over the years on the doorsteps and tables of neighbors, newcomers and strangers in need as one of her ways she showed her care for others. Jane was instrumental in formation of the Birthline (now known as the Women’s’ Resource Center) dedicated to helping women with unexpected pregnancy and providing alternatives to abortion. She took her Catholic faith as a calling to inconspicuous actions that gave witness to the living Gospel of healing and forgiveness.
Her main calling in life was the physical and spiritual care and feeding of her immediate and extended family. Cards and letters flowed from her even as her vision and ability to write failed. Despite her pain and sickness from early onset of rheumatoid arthritis and complications from medication she was always “getting better”. Her enthusiasm for life and interest in people made a lasting impression on many who knew her. Daughter Cathy and her family have been full time caregivers in Overland Park the past two years and our gratitude is beyond words.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack.
Jane is survived by sons, John Campbell and spouse Robyn Tait of Omaha, NE, Mike Campbell and spouse Debbie of Kansas City, MO; daughters, Jeannie Campbell and spouse Tim Kluempers of Lenexa, KS, and Cathy Campbell Miyake and spouse Dean of Overland Park, KS; twelve grandchildren, Kaitlin, Jacob, and Cecelia Campbell, Annie Freeman (Seth), Molly, Rosie, and Mary Grace Campbell, Janie, Catherine, Brock and Lacianna Kluempers and Raina Miyake; and three great-grandchildren Jackson and Luke Freeman, and Bird Campbell.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the North Platte Catholic Endowment Fund or to the Women’s Resource Center.
Christian Wake Service will be 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2016 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Reverend C.P. Varghese as celebrant. Interment will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be noon until 4:00 p.m. Sunday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.