The Life of MARY JO CAMPBELL
Mary Jo Johnson Campbell passed away on Friday, November 4, 2022 at home with family. Born to Shelby and Veva Johnson in Madrid, Iowa, she had an idyllic childhood.
Mary Jo grew up in Madrid on a farm, which is now part of Jester Park, as the youngest of six children. Enjoying adventures in the timber, driving her Dad’s Farmall tractor, and playing basketball for Granger High School were just a few of her fondest memories from childhood. Most important was her family especially nieces and nephews whom she enjoyed throughout her whole life. Being a super aunt, she would hide nephews Bobby and Georgie behind the chicken coop so they wouldn’t go home when they were kids, tried to show nieces Pat and Nancy the benefits of pickled herring, amused at nicknames Slick Chick (Susie) and Hammer (Shelby) that were given out in the family, and turned heads when she arrived to meet new baby Slim at hospital.
After high school graduation, she worked for MGM Studios and Armstrong Tires in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1956, she married John Campbell Jr. and they made their home in Mitchellville, Iowa raising four children: John III, Veva, Tina, and Barbara. During their 43 years of marriage, John and Mary Jo enjoyed their family by coordinating holiday get togethers, meeting brothers for breakfast at Merle Hay Mall, and travelling many places including Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Atlantic City, Fort Worth, and Mexico. Each wedding anniversary, Mary Jo always received a dozen red roses with one white rose which John said was for the next year.
Throughout her life, Mary Jo enjoyed several hobbies including gardening, reading (especially one of her hundreds of cookbooks), and antiques. Enjoying antiques so much, John and Mary Jo started Campbell Antiques which included a store and doing antique shows for which they won an award for best table in show one year. In later years, Mary Jo enjoyed attending Broadway shows with her daughter, Barbara. Favorites included Phantom of the Opera and Wicked seeing each at least three times.
Always an animal lover, Mary Jo had many cats and dogs in her life including Jug, who she learned to walk holding his tail, Chopper, who protected her while working in the field, and Siamese cat Big Boy, who she hid so nobody would adopt him. In recent years, she enjoyed the company of dogs Grace and Elphaba. Both girls are still trying to find their Grandma.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Barbara Campbell and Veva Bernardino, grandchildren Jennifer (KP), Samantha (Eric), Daniel (Ashley) Joseph (Christian), Robert (Leah), Michelle, Brent, Mollie (Sean), great grandchildren Eduardo, Christopher, Sophia, Mya, Ariya, Grayson, McKenzie, and Lucca. Additionally, she is survived by nieces and nephews who love her. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband John, children Tina Campbell and John A. Campbell, III, parents (Shelby and Veva Johnson), siblings (Wilburn, George, Cornelia, June, and Pete), nephews (George Jr., David, Neil) and nieces (Shelby Elaine, Linda, Kim). We’ll always love and miss you Mom!
Mary Jo’s final resting place will be Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa next to her family. Graveside services will be scheduled at a later date.
Given her love of animals, the family requests any memorial donations be made to either Animal Rescue League or Animal Lifeline of Iowa in her memory.