Robert (Bob) Dean Campain passed peacefully from this life on January 12, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, after a lengthy battle with multiple myeloma. Bob was born on April 22, 1937 in Bedford, Iowa, to William Franklin Campain, and Sarah Fonta (Purcell) Campain. He grew up in Bedford, moving to Gray Iowa when he began his high school career. He and his twin sister, Roberta, graduated in 1955. Bob attended Junior College in Clarinda Iowa for two years, at which time he married Ruth Elizabeth Nance, on June 23, 1957, and took a job in the Taylor County Treasurer’s office.
Bob and Ruth had four children – Robert D Jr, Douglas Scott, Phillip Edwin, and Darla Jean.
He continued his education, via night school, finally earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1969.
He had a long, successful career – three of them, in fact! He worked for Western Electric (AT&T) as an accountant, taking early retirement in 1985. His second career was with the Iowa Department of Revenue, in Des Moines, as an auditor for nearly ten years. Then, at the age most people start thinking of retirement, he decided to go to trucking school, because, as he said, “I’ve always wanted to learn how to drive the big rigs!” He drove over the road, then regional routes, and finally local routes until he retired for good, at age 85.
Bob was very handy – he modernized and improved every home he owned, with seemingly no restrictions on what projects he was willing to take on.
He married Charme L. Wilson on July 29, 2006. Together, they enjoyed biking and RV traveling, but most importantly, they were deeply committed to lives centered around their local church home. In each one, Bob served in a variety of roles and ministries. Together, they lived in Caro Michigan, Foley Alabama, Owensboro Kentucky, Terre Haute Indiana, and finally Kansas City Missouri. They established and maintained friendships everywhere they lived. Bob also enjoyed puzzles of all sorts, and enjoyed board games and good conversations.
Bob was predeceased by his mother and father, his older sister Marilyn Jean Rucker, his twin sister Roberta Ann Mackey, his youngest son Phillip Edwin Campain, Daughter in Law Laurey Joan Campain, and a grandson, William Boyd Campain.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of nearly 20 years, Charme Lynne Campain, sons Robert D Jr (Susan), Douglas Scott (Doreen), and daughter Darla Jean. He also leaves step daughters Ginger Stamp, and Star (David) Sutphin. He is also survived by his ex-wife Ruth Campain, grandchildren Tyler (Halie) Campain, Abby (Adam) Hoffhines, Troy (Kaylan) Campain, and Peter Campain, plus Aiden Stamp, and Dawson Sutphin. He was also blessed by a total of seven great grand children: William, Vivian, Alfred, and Eleanor Campain; Samuel Hoffhines; Aiden and Connor Campain.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 1050 S. Thorpe Pl, West Terre Haute, IN 47885 on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at Lexington Cemetery, in Bedford IA, at a later date TBD.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Robert’s name to either Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 (Woundedwarriorproject.org), the Warrior 180 Foundation, P O Box 855, Aberdeen, NC 28315 (warroior180.org), or to a charity of your choice.
