Don Spencer Campbell, 92, of Falls City was born on October 13, 1932, in Horton, Kansas. He was the youngest of five children born to Herbert S. and Winifred H. (Kipp) Campbell. At the time, his parents thought, “How will we survive with another mouth to feed?” But after he was born, they thought, “How would we ever survive without him?”
After graduating from Horton High School, Don attended Omaha School of Commerce from November 1950-April 1951, learning Morse Code. Prior to taking a military leave of absence, He was a telegraph operator for the Union Pacific Railroad. Don served in the Air Force during the Korean War as a supply specialist. On September 2, 1956, Don married LaVerne Zentner at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, and has called Falls City home ever since. His career included employment at the Richardson County Bank as well as the United States Post Office, retiring as Postmaster of Brownville, Nebraska in 1999.
Don was a people-person through and through. He loved visiting friends and family, playing golf, and checking the “pulse of the city.” He was a passionate member of the Elks Lodge #963, as well as the Falls City American Legion and VFW, and very active in community service. Over the years, Don served in the following capacities: City Council, President of the Falls City Jaycees, President of the Horton Hornet Alumni Association, President of Falls City Lions Club, President of Falls City Country Club, President of Falls City Band Parents, Treasurer of the Brownville Historical Society, Exalted Ruler of the Falls City Elks (twice), and President of the Falls City Chamber of Commerce.
Don passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at his home in Falls City, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Walter and Mildred Zentner; siblings: Dale (Verda) Campbell, Shirley (Gene) Hosford, Janet (Richard) Myers, and Keith (Phyllis) Campbell.
Don is survived by his wife LaVerne Campbell, and their children: Michael (Deborah) Campbell of Grand Island, Christine (Jeff Shubert) Campbell of Lincoln, and Lisa (Edward) Kirkendall of Falls City. grandchildren: Tyler Campbell of Lincoln; Allison (Whitney) West of Lincoln, Mallory Kirkendall of Lincoln, and Rachel Johnson of Williams, MN; step-grandchildren: Megan (Michael) Torczon of Omaha; Cooper (Dane Hautala) Shubert of Duluth, MN; great-grandsons: Zaden Campbell and Grayson West; step-great-granddaughter Addalynn Torczon, and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church and 20th & Towle street in Falls City with Pastor Joanne Kathol officiating. Family will greet friends from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church and a family prayer service will start at 10:45 a.m.
Inurnment will be at the Steele Cemetery in Falls City with military honors conducted by the Falls City American Legion Honor Guard and the U.S. Naval Honor Guard.
A register book will be available from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at the Hall Funeral Home, 2403 Harlan Street in Falls City.
Memorial contributions may be given to the family’s choice with a later designation.
Condolences can be shared online at www.hallfuneral.net
Services entrusted to Hall Funeral Home-2403 Harlan ST-Falls City, NE 68355 (402) 245-3131
