Cainsville, MO: Larry Ray Campbell aka Grandpa Campbell, 88 a resident of Cainsville, Missouri was called home on August 13, 2023 after suffering from a long battle of cobalt poisoning. He was surrounded by his loving daughter and granddaughters doing things his way. Larry will always be remembered as a LEGEND for being one of the most selfless, caring, kind, generous, and loving person who was always there for whomever was in need and never met a stranger.
Larry Ray grew up in Lenox, Iowa the son of Leland Baldwin Campbell and Esther Charletta Olson Campbell, with his two sisters Phyllis Campbell Stone and Connie Campbell Bissell on the family farm. The farm where his Grandpa Ira James Campbell and Cora Baldwin Campbell also raised their families. He attended Lenox Schools where he met the love of his life Rosemarie Reynolds Campbell, they were married July 13, 1952. Soon after they married the couple moved to Des Moines, Iowa. The couple then had 4 children Mark Allen, who tragically passed as an infant, then came Jacki, Lauri and Jill. Larry began working a variety of jobs until he was noticed for his work ethic and his charisma by Harry Gilnsky who trained and introduced Larry into the Cattle and meat processing business. Larry was made a manager at the age of 28 and was flying back and forth to Chicago, Illinois to meet with world renown producers in the business. Due to Larry’s Movie star looks he was even placed in commercials.
Larry and his family moved to a farm in Cummings, Iowa in the early 60s where he and his wife had a small orchard and plenty of room for horses, registered Suffolks and Herefords cattle. Larry had plenty of friends and became very involved with the youth in the community as a 4H leader. The family also showed Suffolks at the Iowa State Fair where they stayed each year for two weeks. Larry was approached to start selling cattle for a company called Bookie pack where he loved traveling to many sale barns, ranches and feed lots for business. Larry and Rosemarie spent a lot of time with his sisters and brother-in-law’s attending many sporting events including the World Series and horse races. Larry was also intrigued by a stage coach he had purchased from his late father-in-law and began being asked to advertise for banks in parades with his team of horses and he would always take his kids along to throw candy.
Through his adventures when Larry made friends, they were friends for life. On Saturdays if he was free, he would host friends, family, and fellow cattlemen in friendly skit shooting and pheasant hunting, along with trail riding.
He so enjoyed nature and became a self-proclaimed horticulturalist teaching his daughters the importance of nature and how to value the simple things of life. Larry and family would visit hospitals and nursing homes to visit family and friends who were ill or who needed help. When Larry turned 37 he took a leap of faith and quit punching a time clock to pursue his dream of owning a larger farm where he could raise cattle and build the life he always dreamed of. With the move came big changes and he and Rosemarie fit right into the life on the farm. He molded his land in the manor he wanted and he hit every mark. His friends and family would come from all over to hunt or fish and enjoy the land. He and Rosemarie loved the small community of Cainsville, Missouri where the farm resided. Grandchildren became the true idea of love for both Rosemarie and Larry they approached this title with honor through ice cream, picnics, parades, fairs and many over nights sleepovers with the grandchildren, and adventures on the farm. He loved to attend whatever grandkid activity there was whenever they could, and loved to teach them what he loved about life. Larry is best known for his adventurous stories and his love for people.
Larry and Rosemarie became involved with the Zion Baptist church where they served the lord and their community. Larry served on a very important board to advocate getting a medical clinic in the town of Cainsville to better serve its residence. Larry was all about the youth of Cainsville, from employing them on the farm to attended many events with the FFA to ballgames and graduations. Larry and Rosemarie loved their Horses and buggies and went on many trail rides and were in many parades. In the early 2000s Larry and Rosemarie decided to purchase a couple Registered Morgan’s from the Yoders of Midwest equine in Bloomfield, Iowa. They had an instant connection with the Yoder family and had the greatest friendship with Amos Yoder and family. Larry said Rosemarie would be so proud of the Campbell Morgan’s who have grown to be sold top seller in Topeka, Indiana. Campbell Morgan’s are now owned all over in different states. After Rosemarie passed, Larry so enjoyed the Café located in his small town. He would have daily meetings with his café crew who became like family. Larry loved spending time with his son-in-law Harry Burdg and his Burdg family. Grandpa Campbell had a new meaning in the Burdg Family, one that was full of love and adventure. Larry went to many horse sales and took many road trips which most were to watch his great nieces play sports. Larry loved to watch one grandson race and his granddaughter show horses. He also so loved gazing at the sunsets and looking over his farm from his favorite bench on his back porch. Larry loved fishing in Alaska and spending his winters in Fountain Hills, Arizona where he traveled and made many friends, Larry so treasured working with Marty Crouse and family through the years and having them on the farm.
I am so blessed I got to call Larry Ray my Dad, he loved life and all of you who were in it. A special thank you to Danielle Burdg for giving us three months of 24/7 love and care and to my beautiful daughter Ally for all your time and love you gave to your Grandpa Campbell. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosemarie Campbell, son Mark Allen Campbell and Grandson Chad Rorebeck who thought Grandpa hung the moon, his sisters and parents and many aunts and uncle and cousins. Survivors in include Jill Marie Campbell Burdg and husband Harry Burdg of Hamilton Missouri, Jacki Graham and husband Bill Graham of Moravia Iowa, Lauri Peery and husband Kent Peery of Booneville, Missouri, like a son Robbie Anderson and wife Mona of Indianola, Iowa, seven grandchildren, three bonus grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, ten bonus grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Larry Campbell Memorial Scholarship Fund for Cainsville R1. Services will be August 25th at 11:00 am at the Princeton Baptist Church. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 pm at Fairview West Cemetery in Lenox Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home in Princeton, MO.