Jan Campbell
1941-06-04 2022-08-16
Jan Campbell, master educator, social pioneer, and intrepid explorer, has set sail for Greener Pastures, Places Unknown, and the Great Beyond, with optional excursions to the Pearly Gates and My Blue Heaven. She is expected to reunite with her (usually) beloved husband Bowen Campbell, Jr., DDS, somewhere between Happily Ever After and the Happy Hunting Grounds. Despite her sudden departure, Jan’s children, grandchildren, cats, family, and friends were there to send her off with love, flowers, music, and best wishes for her greatest adventure yet.
Jan was born Judith Ann Deckard, a situation she eventually remedied through a series of legal name changes. While Jan was attending Des Moines Roosevelt, she met Bo, a Lincoln Railsplitter and Ashworth lifeguard. The couple attended the University of Iowa: Jan as a loyal Kappa Kappa Gamma; Bo as a rotten Phi Kappa Psi. Following a wedding at Plymouth and a reception at Wakonda, Bo and Jan honeymooned separately. Bo enjoyed a year-long, tropical cruise through Vietnam on the USS Isle Royale, while Jan braved the blackboard jungles of Iowa and Indiana.
As Bo established his Ingersoll dental practice, Jan settled into her life as a young mother and teacher in Des Moines. To the passing observer, Jan presented as an attractive social butterfly, flitting between chic-sounding activities like twilight tennis, mahjongg, regattas, and “in-services.” Beneath her church ladylike exterior, however, Jan was a pagan earth goddess battling ignorance, apathy, and social injustice with righteous maternal fury. As years went on, Jan devoted increasingly more of her time, talents, and passion to combating systemic inequities that oppress underserved and underrepresented populations.
Jan’s favorite grades were late elementary, when kids start to use what they learn to become who they will be. The students sent down to Mrs. Campbell’s room knew the world could be an unfair place. Jan sprinkled her steadfast optimism and encouragement with just enough cautionary tales of Smouse ghosts and children who don’t do their assignments to command the attention and respect of even the most reluctant learners.
Here are a few of highlights from Jan’s illustrious life:
• Jan became endorsed in reading and special education while raising a family to become more effective at helping students empower themselves through language and learning
• Jan remained an active member of Plymouth Congregational Church, with a special focus on refugee community integration
• Jan provided a beautiful home for her family that was a safe haven for friends, exchange students, and the temporarily unhoused
• Jan loved all things social and philanthropic. She was a member of several clubsand organizations, including: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Junior League of Des Moines and Des Moines Golf & Country Club
• Jan campaigned tirelessly for competent, compassionate candidates who she believed would best serve the interests of their constituencies
• Jan hosted Christmas Eve parties that were warm and sparkling, and open to anyone in need of holiday cheer
• Jan delighted in bringing her teaching and caregiving skills to underserved populations in Latin America, Africa, China, India, and beyond
Jan was a dutiful daughter and granddaughter, a loving wife, an indulgent mother, an overly excitable grandmother, a steadfast friend, a gifted teacher, a devout Christian, and an exemplary citizen. Jan and Bo celebrated their 52nd anniversary in 2014.
Jan is also preceded in death by Thomas and Charlotte (Clinton) Deckard. Jan is survived by her children Bowen Campbell, III (Brigid Kelly), and Sara Campbell Gaskell (Jon); her grandchildren, Hudson, Stella, and Clara Campbell, and Sally and Jack Gaskell; her siblings, Diane Deckard Finley (Tom) and Jack Deckard, M.D. (Kat Klein); and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Plymouth Church (Cuba Partnership Team). We wish Janny fair winds and following seas, and will remember her happily and often.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/jan-campbell-obituary?id=36362819
Jan was born Judith Ann Deckard, a situation she eventually remedied through a series of legal name changes. While Jan was attending Des Moines Roosevelt, she met Bo, a Lincoln Railsplitter and Ashworth lifeguard. The couple attended the University of Iowa: Jan as a loyal Kappa Kappa Gamma; Bo as a rotten Phi Kappa Psi. Following a wedding at Plymouth and a reception at Wakonda, Bo and Jan honeymooned separately. Bo enjoyed a year-long, tropical cruise through Vietnam on the USS Isle Royale, while Jan braved the blackboard jungles of Iowa and Indiana.
As Bo established his Ingersoll dental practice, Jan settled into her life as a young mother and teacher in Des Moines. To the passing observer, Jan presented as an attractive social butterfly, flitting between chic-sounding activities like twilight tennis, mahjongg, regattas, and “in-services.” Beneath her church ladylike exterior, however, Jan was a pagan earth goddess battling ignorance, apathy, and social injustice with righteous maternal fury. As years went on, Jan devoted increasingly more of her time, talents, and passion to combating systemic inequities that oppress underserved and underrepresented populations.
Jan’s favorite grades were late elementary, when kids start to use what they learn to become who they will be. The students sent down to Mrs. Campbell’s room knew the world could be an unfair place. Jan sprinkled her steadfast optimism and encouragement with just enough cautionary tales of Smouse ghosts and children who don’t do their assignments to command the attention and respect of even the most reluctant learners.
Here are a few of highlights from Jan’s illustrious life:
• Jan became endorsed in reading and special education while raising a family to become more effective at helping students empower themselves through language and learning
• Jan remained an active member of Plymouth Congregational Church, with a special focus on refugee community integration
• Jan provided a beautiful home for her family that was a safe haven for friends, exchange students, and the temporarily unhoused
• Jan loved all things social and philanthropic. She was a member of several clubsand organizations, including: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Junior League of Des Moines and Des Moines Golf & Country Club
• Jan campaigned tirelessly for competent, compassionate candidates who she believed would best serve the interests of their constituencies
• Jan hosted Christmas Eve parties that were warm and sparkling, and open to anyone in need of holiday cheer
• Jan delighted in bringing her teaching and caregiving skills to underserved populations in Latin America, Africa, China, India, and beyond
Jan was a dutiful daughter and granddaughter, a loving wife, an indulgent mother, an overly excitable grandmother, a steadfast friend, a gifted teacher, a devout Christian, and an exemplary citizen. Jan and Bo celebrated their 52nd anniversary in 2014.
Jan is also preceded in death by Thomas and Charlotte (Clinton) Deckard. Jan is survived by her children Bowen Campbell, III (Brigid Kelly), and Sara Campbell Gaskell (Jon); her grandchildren, Hudson, Stella, and Clara Campbell, and Sally and Jack Gaskell; her siblings, Diane Deckard Finley (Tom) and Jack Deckard, M.D. (Kat Klein); and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Plymouth Church (Cuba Partnership Team). We wish Janny fair winds and following seas, and will remember her happily and often.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/jan-campbell-obituary?id=36362819