Thomas Darel Campbell's Obituary
Thomas Darel Campbell
1936-2026
Thomas Darel Campbell, also known as Tommy in his younger years and Tom in his adult life, passed away at home with his son beside him on May 1st, 2026 in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. He was the oldest and only child born to Doris Pauline Campbell and Joseph Calvin Donner, Jr., on November 8th, 1936, in Malvern, Mills County, Iowa.
Tom was raised by his maternal grandparents, Charles Thomas Campbell and Sarah “Sadie” Jane Howe until he graduated from Malvern High School in 1955; and with the help of his uncles Sheldon and Ora, and aunt Louise, whom he lived with off and on through about the 6th grade.
Right after high school Tom married Mary Louise Mercer on May 8th, 1955, in Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa. When asked how they met he said “In those days you got in your car and cruised the streets of near by towns looking [for girls]. Me and two of my high school [friends was] doing just that in Red Oak and ran [into] Mary, [and her twin sisters] Jane and Jean. I actually tied up with Jane and later switched to Mary. Jean’s [now] husband Bob was in the car also.” To this union four children were born. By 1957 Tom had moved his family to California for better opportunities and education. Tom and Mary divorced in April 1975. He remarried to Nelma Louise (née Kirk) Shuptrine on July 17th, 1976, in El Dorado, California, they later divorced on June 9th, 1983, in Santa Clara, California.
He moved to Hawaii in 1988 with his sister Kathleen, and they ran Waikoloa Realty together, until her passing in January 2016. He owned and operated Waikoloa Realty until he retired in his 80’s after the 2020 Covid Pandemic. Tom was a businessman who started his own communications and real estate businesses throughout his life.
While he was a private person, he had a love for photography, the outdoors and hiking. He enjoyed woodworking and sewing too. He was considering and excited about the idea of moving from Hawaii to Utah with his son Bruce to be closer to his granddaughter and great-grandchildren, with the possibility of meeting his siblings.
Tom was preceded by his father, Joseph, mother, Doris Young and stepfather Fred Young, siblings, Patricia (née Young) Golden, Alfred Young, Joseph Young, Kathleen (née Young) Barnhart, Leslie (née Donner) Cook, and his children Curtis and Brian Campbell, and Katie Rose Snell (née Laurene Joan Campbell).
He leaves behind his son Bruce Campbell of Hawaii, grandchildren Scotty (Cheri) Schmelz, their son Tyler Greene of California, Amanda (Ben) Graef, their children Mackenzie, Violet, Norman, and Charlotte Graef of Utah, Brandie (Andrew) Davis of California, Margaret (Jason) Bradley, their children Austin, Colby, Natalie, James, and Oliver Bradley of Nevada, one other grandchild, and five great-grandchildren. Siblings Cassie (née Young) Randall of California, Doug Donner,Deanna (née Donner) Messing both of Colorado, Mark Donner of New Mexico, and Kendra (née Donner) Robinson of Colorado. His longtime friend and ex-brother-in-law Robert “Bob” Irwin of Nebraska, friend Peggy Kruithof of Hawaii, and many nieces and nephews.
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