Emmagene (Jeanne) Ann (Pinkley, Passow) Campbell, age 83, died on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at her home.
Jeanne was born on September 14, 1937 to Paul and Phoebe (Kammuler) Pinkley.
Jeanne was raised in Fountain City, WI, along with her younger brother, Jim. She graduated in 1954 from Fountain City High School. She graduated in 1958 from Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN. Jeanne was employed by Methodist Hospital in nursing until she moved to Austin, MN with her husband, Ivan Passow. They raised three children: Lee, Keith and Angela. She worked as a nurse at the Hormel Co., later divorced, moved to Rochester and became employed by Mayo Clinic Blood Bank for 13 years. She specialized in apheresis until her medical retirement in 1990.
She had many artistic talents and expressed them through quilting and sewing, painting, jewelry making, and also created leather masks with her son Lee and many of the family. She previously created artistic projects with a 4-H club and the League of Women Voters in Austin. Jeanne made beautiful wedding cakes, wedding dresses and so much more.
Jeanne met and married Max Campbell in May of 1987. During their years of marriage, they enjoyed boating on the Mississippi and spending Winters in Destin, Florida.
She is survived by her husband, Max; 3 children; 2 stepchildren, Chad and Jodi; 9 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Max, her constant companion was caretaker through numerous surgeries and various conditions. For over 30 years, his strength brought her peace and comfort.
Her strong, unyielding faith and kind, loving nature made her a positive influence on them all and she will be forever remembered and missed by family and many others lucky enough to have known her.
She was a long-time member of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.
Rochester Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences of Jeanne may be shared at rochestercremationservicesmn.com
Dearest Jeanne,
Words will never express the love and respect I have for you. You were and forever will be a guiding light for me and so many others you touched in your life. May the peace of our God hold you forever! Love always Sandy Fregine.
Dearest Max,
Again words can never begin to express the love and respect I have for you. You have been there for Jeanne and family through good times and hard times. I can’t imagine Losing your soulmate nor will I ever pretend to know what you are going through right now. Please do know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. May God’s peace be with you always. Love you Max, Sandy Fregine
Keith, Lee and Angie,
I am truly sorry for the loss of your mom. She was a wonderful grand lady. God’s peace be with you all.
Sandy Fregine
Jeanne was a trusted and valued colleague in the blood bank. I so enjoyed working with her. She was calm and kind! She and Max had us over for dinner and I still have the recipes from the wonderful meal she fixed! She can now care for others in heaven. She will be missed. My sincere sympathies to Max and her family.
Angie,
I will truly miss your beautiful mom! She’s been one of my “extra church moms” for many years, and no matter what, always had a smile and a hug for me. Still want to be like her when I grow up and can’t wait to see her again in our heavenly home.
I truly loved Jeanne…thinking of you all. Your wife & mom was such a blessing to me. So glad I knew her. Last time I saw her, she gave me some canna lilies for my garden. She also shared a recipe for Strawberry Dacquri cake….I’ve made it for years for all my grand kid’s & other family birthday celebrations ~ a Smith family favorite. I will treasure her memory always. Sending love, prayers & condolences….I worked with her years ago at the Blood Bank ♡
Max, we are so very sorry for your loss.
Max and Family,
Jeanne was a very special woman, kind, patient, always thinking of others first. I had the pleasure of working with her for several years in the Blood Bank and Apheresis. She was an excellent mentor, not only co-worker but a friend. She is now released from the pain she suffered and is resting in Heavenly peace. I know she will be missed by many who are grieving her loss. God bless her memory.
Jeanne was always so much fun in those old blood bank days!!! She always looked just perfect and beautiful when she walked in to work. Many times she shared recipes and how to’s and I wanted to be so much like her. She will always be famous for marrying Kenny Rogers ( Max). I know her famiy will mis her much, greetings to you Max. You always had Kenny Rogers beat!!!
Max and family
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your soulmate Jeanne, she was a kind and beautiful person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Pam & Wayne
I did not have the chance to know Jeanne very well but I did meet her at her great-grandsons’ baptism. Their baptism was so important to her! I did feel I knew what a great person she was from the very kind words about her that I heard from her grandson and his wife (my daughter). They thought the world of her and passed on to their children how great “grandma Jeane” was! My sincere sympathy to Jeanne’s family.
Dear Max, Keith, Lee and Angela,
My deepest sympathy at the loss of your wife and mother. Jeanne and I had such fun carpooling from Austin to Rochester! I just found the photo of you Max and Jeanne when you hosted the blood bank baby shower for my daughter Rebecca. The cupcakes were a work of art! The time you took us on the houseboat for the weekend was so much fun. I treasure her lovely art of my sone Matt and his service dog Nelson as well as all the lovely Christmas cards she sent me. She will be missed. Linda Stadheim (former Smith).
Dear Max,
I am so sorry to hear of Jeanne’s passing. I was trying to contact the both of you to invite you to our mother Catherine’s Memorial Service in Chatfield. Only to find out that Jeanne has moved on. My deepest sympathy. You and Jeanne were such good friends to mom, and she missed you as close neighbors and best friends very much. Jeanne was so generous and creative and such fun to be around.
Please know that people like you and Jeanne are never forgotten.
With love,
Gail Manahan
Dear Max and family,
Jeanne was a grand, classy, gorgeous lady, mother, wife and friend; beautiful inside and out. She threw me the most beautiful wedding shower back in 1973 in Austin. I will never forget Jeanne and every lovely thing she did to make that day and time in my life the most creative, wonderful, magnificent, best possible experience it could be. She and my mother, Bernice Hansen, were so very close and she misses her terribly. There is a special place in Heaven where Jeanne is resting, fully healed and completely pain-free. May she rest in Peace and Power, in the arms of her Lord and Savior. You all have my condolences, my heart, and my prayers. Sincerely, Carol Grow