Celebration of Life services for Donald Henry Kampbell, 88, of Stratford, will be held 10:00 Saturday at the Rollow Chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Ada, Rev. Brian Matthews and Rev. Waylon Dancer officiating. A graveside service and burial will be officiated by Rev. Jason Steffenson following at Rosedale Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Criswell Funeral Home on Friday, Sept 13 from 6-8 pm and on Saturday, Sept 14 from 9-9:45 am in the Rollow Chapel at First United Methodist Church, both in Ada, OK.
Dr. Kampbell died Monday, September 9, 2019 at Elmbrook Home in Ardmore, OK after a 3 year battle with Lewy-body Dementia. He was born November 22, 1930 in Gering, NE to Henry and Elizabeth (Zitterkoph) Kampbell. He married Edna Struble in 1967 and later divorced in 1980. He later married Vivian Clemmer on December 5, 1991 in Elmore City, OK.
His hobbies included farming, antique tractors, church activities, square dancing and spending time with his grandsons. He was educated as a home inspector and as a master cattleman.
Dr. Kampbell was an accomplished man and embraced learning his entire life. After finishing high school he worked as a Farm Hand in Hemingford, NE for 3 years then moved to Omaha, NE where he worked as a Shipping Clerk at a meat packing plant. In 1957 he quit his ‘union’ job and moved to Lincoln, NE to attend the University of Nebraska. At NU he received a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Agriculture in 1960 and a Master’s degree in 1962. In 1964 he received his Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry from the University of Missouri. He received an Associate’s degree in Civil/Construction Engineering Technology from Middlesex County College in New Jersey in 1976 and then a second Master’s degree in 1977 in Civil Engineering from Newark College of Engineering.
Dr. Kampbell was a member of the American Chemical Society for over 50 years and had been a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the Soil Science Society of America for many years. He was registered with the State of Oklahoma as a Professional Engineer since 1981 and was a Certified Professional in Agronomy, Crops and Soils since 1981.
Dr. Kampbell’s 46 year working career began in western Nebraska. His exceptional employment history consisted of jobs at Armor & Co in Omaha, NE, the University of Nebraska and the University of Missouri, Conoco Inc in Ponca City, and the USEPA in Edison, New Jersey. After 32 years of service with the USEPA he retired in June 2004 while working at the Robert S Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada, OK. Since becoming a Research Scientist in 1984 Donald has been the author or co-author of 136 scientific publications. His successful demonstrations on soil venting and bioremediation technologies to treat fuel spills in ground water are widely cited in the literature and he is internationally known for his research on this topic. At retirement, he was Union President of Local #2900 American Federation of Government Workers.
He was a member of the Lutheran Church for many years. Most recently he served at the First Lutheran Church in Ada, OK. He was a respected trustee for several years and served as both Vice President and Secretary on the church’s council.
Survivors include his wife Vivian, of the home; two children, Stephanie Dancer and husband Waylon of Stratford and Darcy Hansen and husband Ryan of Grand Island, NE; three step-children, Michael Clemmer, Amy Holland and Angela Clemmer; grandchildren, Alexander, Christian, and Stephen Dancer and Jens, Gaven and Dane Hansen; six step-grandchildren, Jordan, Zachary, Caleb & Kayleigh Clemmer and Dalton & Dylan Holland; and one step-great grandchild, Chloe Clemmer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Henry Kampbell; brothers David, Robert and Kenneth Kampbell; sisters Eldora Schumacher, Evelyn Jensen, Barbara Munger and Rebecca Morris.
Pall bearers will be grandsons Jens & Gaven Hansen, Zachary Clemmer, Dalton Holland and Stephen & Christian Dancer. Honorary pall bearers will be Dane Hansen, Dylan Holland, Caleb Clemmer and Alex Dancer.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
