Rev. Charles Frederick 'Fred' Campbell, formerly of Chester
Rev. Charles Frederick "Fred" Campbell, 90, of Springfield, Illinois, formerly of Chester, passed away at 10:25 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at Spring Hill Care Center, Concordia Village in Springfield.
He was born to the late Charles and Laura (nee Horn) Campbell on May 27, 1929, in Morristown, New Jersey. Fred married June Louise Kroutter on March 20, 1953 at Mobile, Alabama, and she survives.
Fred earned his pilot license at age 17. He attended Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, continuing at George Washington University in Washington D.C. where he worked for the FBI while going to night school.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950, and completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He taught electronics and radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi until 1952, when he was called to attend Air Force pilot training. While at Keesler he attended a USO dance, met and fell in love with June.
He was brought to Christ through the witness of his pilot training roommate, through Bible readings. In his military life he served the Lord faithfully at several congregations as elder, Sunday school teacher, superintendent, trustee, adult class teacher, choir member, evangelist, stewardship worker and layman where needed. In 1971 he turned down a promotion to Lt. Colonel to enroll in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, to become a Lutheran minister and receive a Masters of Divinity degree. Following seminary, Fred served his entire pastoral career - from vicarage in 1974 to his retirement May 31, 1994 - at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester.
He served as secretary to the Southern Illinois District Evangelism Committee, served as a pastoral counselor for the Southern Illinois District Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as secretary for the Lower Kaskaskia Circuit Pastors and as secretary of the Chester Ministerial Association.
In 2015, Fred and June were blessed to move to Concordia Village in Springfield, and they transferred their church membership to St. John Lutheran Church in Chatham, Illinois.
Fred enjoyed his St. Louis Cardinals, he renewed his pilot's license which enabled him to fly family and friends around southern Illinois and he put in more than 700 miles of swimming laps at the Perryville Recreation Center. He and June volunteered at the Chester Welcome Center, and he was a regular blood donor for the Red Cross. He was a Life Member of VFW Post #3553 and American Legion Alva Courier Post #487.
A quote from Fred regarding his life: "Best of all has been the joy of having my dear and loving family around me and knowing that we shall always be together through this life and right on into the next one with our dear Jesus, being sure that all of our goof-ups, bad acts, mistakes and wrongs will be forgiven for the sake of our Savior's atoning sacrifice on the cross. When we stand before our Heavenly Father, Jesus will say 'It's OK, they're with ME!'"
Fred Campbell is survived by his wife, June L. Campbell of Springfield; four children, Laura (Gary) Catherwood of Springfield, Kathy (Jim) Farish of Mobile, Alabama, Lt. Col. Craig (Joan) Campbell (ret.) of Shiloh, Illinois and Susan (Mike) McClure of Chester and one brother, Dr. Donn (Jeanne) Campbell of Annapolis, Maryland.
He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren: Brian (Hannah) Catherwood and their children, Noah and Esther; Curt (Crystal) Catherwood and their children, Clark and Zeke; Bethany (Bobby) VanDerWal and their children, Elliott and Easton; Daniel (Nikki) Farish and their children, Andrew, Ginger, Charlie and Quinn; Nathan (Kelsie) Farish and their son, Rylinn; Jacob Farish and his dog, Tipper; Joel (Amber) Farish and their children, Jaycee and Chevelle; Colin Campbell; Katelyn Campbell and her dog, Tanner; Michael (Amber) McClure II; Jennifer (Matt) DeBackere and their daughter, Ellie; Christine (Adam) Schnelting and their daughter, Kate; and Elizabeth McClure (fiancé Clinton Fischer).
Fred is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, with the Revs. Tim Sims and Justin Massey officiating. Interment will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Chester.
Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church.
A Memorial Service for Fred will also be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 at Concordia Village Chapel, in Springfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church, in Chester; St. John's Lutheran Church in Chatham; or the Concordia Village, Springfield, Benevolent Fund or Scholarship Fund.