Neal Campbell

Neal K Campbell passed away peacefully at his home on January 15, 2024.

Neal was born on February 4, 1938, in Rigby, Idaho, to Clarence and Maggie Kinghorn Campbell. The fourth of five children, Neal was raised on a small farm in a 2-bedroom house with no indoor plumbing. In the summertime, Neal and his brother, Gale, would sleep on a mattress outside in the orchard. He loved to tell us how he learned to swim when his Dad threw him in the Snake River.

Neal attended school in Menan and Rigby and the family moved to Idaho Falls when Neal was a teenager. He attended OE Bell Junior High and Idaho Falls High School. Neal enlisted in the Army in 1957, and was stationed in Europe for 3 years. Neal enjoyed his time in the military and always had great stories to tell about his time overseas.

Neal met Virginia Taylor in 1960, and they were married June 2, 1961. They were married for 28 years, and together raised three children, Alison, Daniele and Willie. They later divorced. Neal married Jayne Smith on June 27, 1992, adding to his family her three boys, Mike, Ryan, and Teagon.

Neal was employed by Idaho Falls School District 91 with the grounds maintenance crew before joining the military, and again on his return from the service. In 1963, he began a sheet metal apprenticeship with Bingham Mechanical and continued working for them as a sheet metal journeyman for the next 25 years. He finished his career back at Idaho Falls School District 91 as the Maintenance Supervisor at Skyline High School, working there for 10 years before retiring in 1998.

Neal and Jayne loved to travel in retirement, enjoying many trips to Cabo San Lucas, returning year after year for 25 years. Neal enjoyed golfing, fishing, and spending time with his family. You could always find him in the stands cheering for his grandkids or watching his Green Bay Packers on TV. He looked forward to coffee with the boys every Thursday, and his weekly trips to Fort Hall with Jayne.

Neal is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Jayne Campbell; sister, Claire Tippets; daughters, Alison (Tad) Beckman and Daniele (Bill) Dixon; sons, Willie (Amy) Campbell, Mike (Hisako) Smith, Ryan Smith, and Teagon (Cheri) Smith; grandchildren, Terek and Chase Beckman, Trevor and Evan Dixon, Taylor and Taran Campbell, Hana Ford, Sheia Everett, Christa and Sachi Smith, Olivia Smith, and Clay, Conlan, and Halli Smith; and 9 great grandchildren.

Neal was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Maggie Campbell; siblings, Donna Williams, Danita Forsgren, Gale Campbell; and grandson, Brian Dixon.

Graveside services will be held at 12 Noon Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Rose Hill Cemetery. Military Honors will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and the Idaho Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends from 10-11:30 a.m. prior to services at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road.