Joseph G. Campbell – Honor a Deceased Veteran Ceremony

DECEMBER 2018

JOSEPH GREGORY CAMPBELL-  HONOR-A-DECEASED-VETERAN
1911-1988

FAMILY HISTORY:
Joseph Gregory Campbell was born on September 1, 1911 in Colonie, New York to James David Campbell and Mary Aloysia Martley Campbell.  Joseph was the brother of Margaret Campbell McLaughlin, James Campbell, William Campbell, Agnes Regina Campbell Preisser, Eleanor Campbell Krackeler, Mary Campbell Hyer, John Campbell and Vincent Campbell.

EDUCATION:
Joseph attended St. John’s Academy in Rensselaer, New York, graduating in 1930.

HISTORY:
Private First Class Campbell enlisted in the United States Army on March 3, 1944 during World War II.  PFC Campbell served as a Rifleman 745 with the 71^st Division, using an M1 rifle to take and hold enemy positions.  Joseph was proficient in the use of other infantry weapons such as machine gun and mortar.  He served 12 months in France and Germany and was awarded battle stars for the Rhineland and Central Germany Campaigns.  Joseph was also the proud recipient of European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  Joseph was honorably discharged on January 16, 1946.

PERSONAL:
On September 19, 1938, Joseph married his wife Henrietta Matson Campbell at St. John’s Church in Rensselaer, New York.  Together they had three daughters, Barbara Campbell Daigle, Carol Susan Campbell Groark and Deborah Campbell Giordano.  Joseph is also survived by seven grandchildren, Kathleen Parker, Sheila Cramer, Janice Griffin, Elizabeth Haar, James Groark, Eileen Hayes and David Giordano; and eleven great grandchildren, Joseph Giordano, Ethan, Christopher, and Rory Joseph Hayes, Mackenzie Cramer, Emma, Sarah, and John Groark, Gavin and Maci Haar and Michael Maynard Parker.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Joseph was owner and operator of Campbell’s Sunoco Service Station in Rensselaer, New York for more than forty-five years.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Joseph was a member of the Gerard O’Neil VFW Post, Knights of Columbus and the EF Hart Hose Pumper 3 Volunteer Fire Department.  He was also a member of the St. John’s Academy basketball team, where in 1930 they received an invitation to play in the National Catholic High School Tournament in Chicago, Illinois.

Joseph was an avid Trout fisherman, and he enjoyed growing vegetables in the family garden and traveling with his wife, Henrietta.  Most of all, Joseph loved to spend time with his f