1950 – 2022
Bruce Glen Campbell passed away at home surrounded by his family on August 6, 2022, after a two-year battle with cancer. Bruce grew up in Middleton, WI. After graduating from Middleton High School in 1968, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and earned his BA in Biology and Education in 1972. Bruce met and instantly fell in love with Cindy Downing on their first day of class at Wartburg College in 1968. They were married on June 23, 1973, in Forest City, Iowa. He called Cindy “his bride” for over 49 years.
December 1, 1969, was an unforgettable night that changed his future. While bowling on a college league team, he and everyone in the bowling alley were concentrating on the televised Selective Service Draft. It was a big deal for men that age whose futures were resting on their possible involvement in the Vietnam War. September 14 was the first number drawn—Number 1—his birthday. There was virtually no way out of his enlistment after graduation the following year. Needless to say, Bruce did not pay for any drinks that night. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years (1972-74) as a radioman at the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, Washington, and following that, served four years in the US Navy Reserve in Des Moines, Iowa.
Bruce had a strong desire to help and heal others. He enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic from 1974-1978 where he received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. For 41 years, from 1979 to 2020, Bruce maintained a successful chiropractic career in Thorp. Always at the ready to meet patients at his ovce every hour of the day or night and even known to make house calls for those in dire need. He was loved, trusted, and respected by everyone who walked through the door of Campbell Chiropractic Ovce. His knowledge and healing art were unrivaled thanks to his education and experience using the Gon stead method.
Boating and water skiing were a part of every summer of his life. As a teenager, he participated in canoe races on the Wisconsin River, and later with his family, he spent many summers boating on Lake Wissota where he pa- tiently and joyfully taught his daughters and granddaughters how to waterski. For many years he golfed on Monday night league at Meadowview Golf Course.
The famous Christmas tradition of making his labor-intensive family peppernut cookie recipe rested on his shoulders. If you were lucky, he would share a sampling! Bruce was a kid at heart and the most selfless and content man a family could ask for. He loved all things Disney and he and Cindy made several trips to Disney World and Disneyland with their children and grandchildren.
He couldn’t wait for family vacations and particularly enjoyed traveling to Mexico for chiropractic seminars. His sense of humor endeared him to family and friends. He could rarely drive by a Culver’s without stopping for a turtle sundae or a chocolate shake. At the last, he was content to sit on the patio swing in the backyard.
He will be dearly missed by his wife, Cindy, of Thorp; two daughters: Carrie (Kev- in) Hou of Cadott, WI, and Katie (Nick) Draeger of She- boygan, WI; five grandchil – dren: Stephanie Hou and her husband, Conway Middle- ton, Isabella Hou, Damian, Sloan and Craig Draeger; one sister: Brenda (Tim) Hess of Brookfield, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, the fam ily asks that memorials be given in Bruce’s name to the Thorp Food Pantry.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh. com.
Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
