Obituaries

James William Campbell Sr., age 70, of Pickford, Michigan, passed away at his home on February 14, 2025. He was born on June 17, 1954, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to James “Herman” and Euline (Stirling) Campbell.

Jim grew up in Pickford and graduated from Pickford High School with the Class of 1972. After graduation he attended Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Agriculture Science in 1974. He met Lori Kay Jenks, from Sault Ste. Marie, while attending a relative’s wedding, Jim and Lori were married on February 18, 1978, at the First Baptist Church in Sault Ste Marie. Jim spent his whole life working on his 7-generation family farm East of Pickford. He also worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections for twenty-seven years before retiring in 2013.

Jim was a member of the Rosedale Community Church, a member of the Farm Bureau, was the Dairy Superintendent for the Chippewa County Fair, and he was a volunteer coach for Pickford Panther football. Formerly, Jim had also been a 4-H livestock leader and a volunteer for the Pickford Ambulance Corp.

Jim enjoyed fishing, especially with his family and friends at their annual fishing trip to Canada. He loved camping with his family, both at the U.P. State Fair and at Tahquamenon Falls. Jim enjoyed reading books and watching sports on television, always rooting for the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Tigers, and the Michigan State Spartans. Jim was a fixture at any and every Pickford School sporting event. He coached flag-football for thirteen years, assisted Coach Rye with stats for his JV football teams, he volunteered at home track meets, sold 50/50 tickets at most of the sporting events for twenty-six years, and he always was there supporting and cheering-on whichever sport that his kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews were participating in. When it came to his grandkids, Jim was always ready to make a road trip to anywhere their travel or college teams were playing.

Jim is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Lori Campbell; children, Cheri (Ben) Bush of Sault Ste. Marie, James Campbell Jr., and Christina Campbell of Pickford; grandchildren, Matthew and Laura Bush; siblings, Janet Campbell, Jake (Jo Ellen) Campbell, both of Pickford, and Cindy (Lee) Wentzel of Portage, Michigan; sister-in-law, Cheri Shagena of Pickford; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews who will all miss him dearly.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Euline Campbell; sisters, Judy Campbell, Carolyn (Gary) Cottle, and Connie Leavitt; brothers, James “JL” Leavitt, and Cal (Fran) Leavitt; stepmothers, Helen Campbell and Irene Mitchell; brother-in-law, Dennis Jenks; and father and mother-in-law, Lyle and Vera Jenks.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at Family Life Funeral Homes, 24549 S. M-129 Pickford, MI 49774. The Funeral Service will follow at 3:00 PM.

Memorials may be left in Jim’s memory to Pickford School Athletics, 333 S. Pleasant St. Pickford, MI 49774.