Obituary: Jay Campbell

While living in Las Vegas, he met his future bride by chance on Mt. Charleston and found they lived only a couple blocks from each other. Jay was united in marriage to Joanna Lee Cannon on Nov. 6, 1971, at Nellis Air Force Base Chapel in Las Vegas. (Jay was not in the service, but Joanna’s dad was retired military and they were able to use the facilities.)

Along with his wife Joanna, they enjoyed riding their motorcycles in the desert and camping. Jay worked for his family owned Nevada Roof Truss Co. building and delivering roof trusses. Later he worked at Hopper Steel, Lumber Sales, and Fosters Auto Truck and Marine working as a mechanic. His passion was working on anything with an engine. He became an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician, a Master Technician in Ford, Isuzu, and Chevrolet. He loved going to school to continue his education in the auto field and business management. He was a car guy.

He moved with his wife to Hood River, Oregon, July 1981 and owned and operated Campbell’s Auto, Truck and Boat, along with a U-haul dealership until July 1987. They were blessed with two sons, Cody born in 1983 and William born in 1985, both born in Hood River. He decided to close his business and go to work for Ray Schultens Ford in The Dalles, Oregon, giving him more time with family. Later he worked closer to home at Hood River Ford Mercury in Hood River until he and his wife and sons moved to Minnesota in September 1994, where they bought a farmstead south of Starbuck.

Jay began work at Gloege Chevrolet Co. in Glenwood, then to Westside Tire and Service in Benson and lastly at Mills Fleet Farm until he injured his shoulder and could no longer work as a mechanic. He later took online classes and became an Independent Insurance Adjuster and got his FFA Drone Pilot license to use for his work. He enjoyed driving all over Minnesota and South Dakota, meeting new people and helping them with their claims. He even traveled to South Carolina a couple of times to work claims after major Storms struck the area. He did this for several years until battling cancer made it impossible for him to continue working.

Living in Oregon, he was always involved in his son’s activities as a Little League Coach, Boy Scout Leader, and helping his sons race Radio Control Cars. He enjoyed watching his son’s play sports and fix their radio control cars. After moving to Minnesota, Jay was involved in organizing two yearly radio control car races he held on his farm in one of the pole buildings. One being the Minnesota State 1/10 Scale Off Road Championships and the other a fun race called The Udder Madness Classic. He was Jay’s R/C race Park and Team Holstein Racing. When his son William started playing guitar, he would attend as many of his rock shows as he could. Then he built outdoor stages and indoor stages for local talent to have a place to play. He always helped out with the rock concerts his sons held on the farm and in the barn. The main yearly June concert was called Udderfest, which was Central Minnesota’s original Rock/Metal gathering. He was brokenhearted at the death of his son Cody in March 2011 by a tragic work accident.

Jay is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Joanna Lee Campbell of Starbuck; son William Jay Campbell of Starbuck; brothers John Colby Campbell (Debra Jean) of Starbuck, Joseph Lee Campbell (Sandra Rena) of Las Vegas, Jeffery Hugh Campbell and significant other Melanie Sievert of Starbuck, and Jerry Bramwell Campbell of Starbuck; sister Jane Mary Jackson (Robert Meeks) of Hotchkiss, Colorado; mother-in-law Dorothy Lee Cannon of Starbuck; sister-in-law Chiyo Cannon of Leesburg, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Cody James Campbell; gather John Allan Campbell; mother Bernadine Louise Campbell; nephew Eric Bramwell Jackson; father- in-law Lt. Col. James Cannon USAF (Retired); and brother-in-laws James Leslie Cannon and Xander Lee Cannon.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 15 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, with Don Swenson officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 at the Starbuck Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starbuck. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or Immanuel Lutheran Church.

The Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family, visit www.starbuckfh.com.

Columbia Gorge News, May 13, 2026