KERRY CAMPBELL

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KERRY CAMPBELL

Kerry James Campbell, Sr., passed away Monday, November 10, 2025 at the Assiniboine Centre BRHC, Brandon at the age of 73, full of love and gratitude for the love of those around him. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.

Kerry was born in Brandon on September 7, 1952, to Jim and Eva (Bartlett). As a youth, he spent his summers at Brandosa Beach in Minnedosa, where he and his younger brother Billy became avid water skiers. Kerry’s love of being lakeside stayed with him throughout his life, with great memories made at Sandy Lake and later Pelican Lake.

After high school, Kerry moved briefly to Winnipeg, where his first son, Kerry Jr., was born. But the big city didn’t suit him, and he couldn’t wait to return to Brandon.

He took over and helped grow the family business, C & C Construction and Rentals, which became a highly successful local enterprise under his stewardship. And while his family and family business remained his priority, Kerry always found time to support his community and carry on the Campbell family’s proud legacy of philanthropy. He was a long-time board member of Westman Dreams for Kids and became involved with many other groups, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and the Construction Association of Rural Manitoba.

After the untimely death of his second son, Kristopher, at age 17, Kerry spearheaded the effort to build the Kristopher Campbell Memorial Skate Plaza in downtown Brandon – an initiative that remains a living memory of dear Kristopher and of Kerry’s dedication to the community.

He was passionate about music and a talented musician with a wonderful, growling singing voice reminiscent of Arthur Conley. He played keyboards in various bands as a teenager, including We Alone and Eighth Street Bridge. In the mid-1970s, he became a founding member of The O-Men, a band that played hundreds, perhaps thousands of community dances and weddings over five decades throughout western Manitoba.

He met his second wife, the love of his life, Carrie Gislason, while out celebrating his 50th birthday. As Mr. & Mrs. Kerry and Carrie Campbell, the two became inseparable.

Kerry lived life to the fullest and loved nothing better than to socialize with family and friends, a trait he picked up from his mother, Eva, who was the consummate host, always making food and refreshments for her guests. Kerry is remembered for his cheerful disposition, his big belly laugh and his sharp and sarcastic sense of humour, which he kept to his final days. But he will be remembered most for his generosity. Friends, family members and anyone else who came within his circle could always count on him for support through difficult times.

He was an amazing husband, a proud father and Papa, an incredible bandmate and a kind, dear friend.

Kerry has now joined Kristopher, his father Jim and mother Eva, father-in-law Roy and mother-in-law Karen Gislason and his sister-in-law Lee-Anne Campbell (nee Geiler).

Kerry is survived by wife Carrie, son Kerry Jr. (Teresa) and daughters Karissa (Brendan) Deg and Karlie (Thom) Hardy, his grandchildren William Wright, Oliver Campbell Wright, Jaxon Deg, and Nate Hardy, and his brother Bill.

Special thanks go to the staff at Killarney Hospital and the Assiniboine Centre for their compassion and care during Kerry’s final days, and to staff at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre and Drs. Moller and Czaykowski.

A Celebration of Kerry’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Westman Dreams for Kids, 404 18th Street North, Brandon, MB R7A 7p3

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

Condolences: www.memorieschapel.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 15, 2025