Elvin Doyle Campbell May 20, 1933 – June 14, 2011
Elvin Doyle Campbell was born May 20, 1933 on a farm in Taylor county, Iowa to Rev. Ward and Carmen (Barnes) Campbell. He was welcomed home by his older brother, Cleo. Later his siblings, Miriam, Yvonne and Phillip, would join the family.
Doyle attended country school and school in Corning, Iowa when he was younger. His family later moved to LeMars, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1951. He attended Central College in McPherson, Kansas where he played baseball for the college. His most memorable game was when his team was losing the ball game. They were doing so poorly, Doyle had already packed up and headed to the bus. A player came and got Doyle off the bus as it was his turn up to bat. The bases were loaded and Doyle hit a home run! His team won the game and he lived every baseball player’s dream.
After graduating from college, Doyle was drafted into the army where he served in the Korean War from 1955-1957. After his honorable discharge from the army, Doyle started working at Hy-Vee food store in 1957 where he worked until he retired in 1997. It was there that he made many lifelong friends of both fellow employees and customers. He truly was that ‘helpful smile in every aisle.’
He was united in marriage to Roberta Poush on July 8, 1962. To this union three children were born, Candi, Kenneth and Michelle. He was very proud of his family, especially having all three children become registered nurses.
Doyle was many things; a husband, brother, father and friend but his favorite role was that of grandfather. He loved his grandchildren dearly and loved to tell funny stories about them. He was especially close to his only grandson, Tyler. When Tyler was a little boy, he was unable to say ‘Grandpa’ so he called Doyle ‘Crappa.’ Doyle dubbed Tyler his ‘Crapson’ and the two had many happy days together checking the cows and riding in the ‘Cow bike’ (which was a pickup truck).
He loved his granddaughter Sarah’s singing, his granddaughter Emily’s sense of humor and his granddaughter Laura’s artistic drawings. He had not yet met his newest granddaughter, Amy, but he had many photographs of her and was so proud that she looked ‘just like a Campbell.’
Doyle will always be remembered for his loving heart and his wonderful sense of humor. He had a vast array of jokes, riddles and poems memorized. He used to joke that when he died, he should be buried at WalMart because that way his wife would visit him several times per week.
Doyle resided at Creston Nursing and Rehab in Creston, Iowa the last couple of years where he was adored by residents and staff. He enjoyed good-natured political debates with the administrator, Paul Crane. Doyle thought very highly of the skilled nurses who performed his dialysis every week and he loved to bring them treats to enjoy. Doyle also had a bowl of candy for visitors and staff to snack on when they would stop in for a visit. Last fall Doyle was elected homecoming king of the nursing home and got to ride in a convertible at the homecoming parade in Creston.
Doyle passed away June 14, 2011 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Left to remember him are his wife of nearly 49 years, Roberta; his children, Candi (special friend Mike Zarr) and Kenneth (special friend Brenda Schad) of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Shannon City, Iowa and Michelle Smith (spouse Greg) of Elk Grove, California; his beloved grandchildren, Tyler, Emily, Sarah and Laura, all of Mount Ayr, Iowa and his newest grandchild, Amy of Elk Grove, California; his sisters, Miriam Clutter of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Yvonne (Frank) Kinkade of Creston, Iowa; his brothers, Cleo (Marilyn) of Viborg, South Dakota and Phillip (Kathy) of Douds, Iowa; his father-in-law, Robert Poush of Mount Ayr, Iowa; his brother-in-law, Byrle Poush of Venice, California, and many other family members and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers-in-law, Jerry Schlapia and John Clutter.
Memorials may be made in his name.
Services were conducted at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr Monday, June 20, 2011, with Pastor Barton Shields officiating. Musical selections included ‘The Sweet Bye & Bye’ by Johnny Cash, ‘In The Garden’ by Brad Paisley and ‘Gathering Flowers For The Masters Bouquet’ by Kenny Campbell.
Casket bearers were Gary Myers, Kirk Golliday, Denny Pyland, Kevin Shelman, George Jones and Mike Zarr.
Honorary pallbearers included grandchildren Tyler, Emily, Sarah, Laura and Amy.
Doyle was laid at rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.
