Helen Yvonne Campbell

TRENTON -- Helen Yvonne Campbell was born May l, 1925 and died Dec. 14, 2002, at the age of 77 after an extended battle with cancer. Helen was born to George and Margaret Sander and grew up on the farm north of Trenton. She met her future husband, Fred Robert Campbell, while selling poppies on Main Street to support the veterans. Helen and Fred were married in July 8, 1945 and celebrated their 57thwedding anniversary last summer.

In addition to her husband, Fred, Helen leaves behind a host of family and friends who mourn her passing and at the same time celebrate her beautiful, caring, and giving life: her oldest son, George and wife Eunice from Manchester, Calif.; her daughter Mary and husband, Michael from Lawrence, Kan.; grandsons J.R. and wife, Melissa from Ames, Iowa; Christopher and wife Jennifer from Albany, Calif., Michael Junior from Austin, Texas, and Joe from Lawrence, Kan. Great grand daughters include Willow Rachel Campbell and Sophia Akiko Campbell-Saito, and a brand new great grandson, Ash Isaac Campbell, born on Halloween Day in Ames, Iowa.

Helen also leaves two brothers, Allen Sander and wife, Katheryn from Superior and Dale Sander and wife, Sandra from Chicago, Ill., a sister-in-law Martha Sander from Waterloo and a host of nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends, including her closest friend and ally, Alice Skinner.

Helen and Fred Campbell lived all 57 years of their married life in their home out west on old Highway 34. Fred purchased the home as a wedding gift for her and it is where they have lived since their honeymoon night. In addition to raising a family and running the family businesses, Campbell Produce and the Roxy Theatre, Helen was best known for the roles she filled at the Trenton United Methodist Church and the Trenton Public Library. She was often the first to arrive at the church to turn on lights and heat and prepare the Sunday School rooms for the church's children. Helen served for countless years as Sunday School Superintendent and was sometimes heard filling in at the piano , or making crafts for the bazaar, or serving in the kitchen at the funeral times of other families in this community.

Helen loved to read. She lived her life vicariously through the pages of books and magazines and cherished her years as head librarian in Trenton. Her grandchildren's fondest memories are of snuggling with Grandma to hear her carefully chosen selections of books that were just right, while her special spaghetti or stew simmered in the kitchen.

Helen Yvonne Campbell was preceded in death by her father and mother, baby sister Doris Marie, her brother Dean Sander, sister Virginia Smith, and her youngest son, James Robert, who died in the Vietnam War.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 20, at the United Methodist Church in Trenton with the Rev. Daniel Spearow officiating. Internment will follow at the Trenton Community Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be today and Wednesday during office hours at the funeral home and Thursday 2-4 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Trenton.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in Charge of the arrangements.