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Philip Howard Campbell, age 70, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, July 29, 2013, at his home.
He was born Jan. 11, 1943, in Battle Creek, a son of Howard Campbell and Geraldine Shurburne and resided in Battle Creek until moving to Sturgis in 1988.
On Dec. 1, 1962, he married Bonnie Parker in Battle Creek. This marriage ended in divorce in January 1986. On Aug. 27, 1994, he married Diana Herman Cook in Coldwater.
Philip graduated from Springfield High School in 1960 and received an associates degree from Kellogg Community College in 1973.
He was in the Michigan National Guard, Co. B, 107th Maintenance Battalion and completed U.S. Army Ordnance Officer School, Aberdeen, Md., in 1965 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in July 1973.
He was employed by the Battle Creek Township Police Department in February 1966; Springfield P.D., 1967-1971; Emmett Township Public Safety, 1981; and Prairieville Township P.D. He also sold real estate, worked for Job Corps Fire and Security and salesman with Aristochem. He joined Sturgis Police Department in 1987, accident reconstructionist, until retiring as a sergeant in 2005. He was then chief of police for Burr Oak Police Department from 2005-2008, then part-time security at St. Joseph County Courthouse until January 2010.
He was a member of the Meridian Sun-Eagle Lodge #49 from 1998 until the present, where he was serving as worshipful master in 2013 and previously 2009 and 2011. He was Mason of the Year in 2012.
He also was a member of Saladin Shrine Temple/Sturgis Shrine Club, currently chaplain; Nebuzaradan Council Royal & Select Masons No. 6, Three Rivers; Columbian Commandry #18; Sturgis Chapter Royal Arch Masons #26 from 2003; Sturgis Masonic Temple Association board member from 2003; a life member of FOP St. Joseph County Lodge 106; Optimist Club; and NRA. He also was a member of the St. Joseph County Conservation Club.
He loved music, classical and jazz, and played trombone in high school and later in dance bands in Battle Creek. He enjoyed many motorcycle trips, British car trips and in past few years, Miata trips. Philip loved his family and shooting at the Conservation Club and was an avid model car and gun collector.
Surviving are his wife, Diana; his mother and stepfather, Geraldine and John Jackson of Bardstown, Ky.; stepmother Katherine Campbell of Bellevue; a son, Jeffery (Shannon) Campbell of Battle Creek; a daughter, Lori Campbell of Battle Creek; a stepdaughter, Rhonda (Steve) Noble of Bronson; a stepson, Douglas Cook of Bronson; grandchildren Shanel (Chris) Wabindato of Battle Creek, Steven (Alesha) Campbell of Battle Creek, and Jacob and Josua Nicolaisen of Battle Creek; stepgrandchildren Taylor Flood of Battle Creek, Kaitlyn Noble of Bronson, and Collin and Braydon Cook of Bronson; great-granddaughters Lexia and Madison Wabindato of Battle Creek; sisters Nancy (Phillip) Milburn of Chaplin, Ky., Anne (Terry) Noble of Bellevue, and Becky Morton of Grand Rapids; a half-brother, Robert (Peggy) Campbell of Bellevue; a half-sister. Lisa Jackson of Bardstown, Ky.; Stepsisters Cindy Nugent of Niles, Susie (Joe) Reinheimer of Delton and Jean Baker of Bellevue. He was preceded in death by his father in 2005 and step-sister: Linda Baker.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, at the Hackman Family Funeral Home – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091. A Masonic Service will be held in the funeral home Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. A Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Philip H. Campbell will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday at Holy Angles Catholic Church in Sturgis with The Rev. Father German Perez-Diaz, officiating. The family suggest memorial donations be directed to the family or Three Rivers Hospice, envelopes are available at the funeral home. His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
