Obituary of Robert William Campbell

Robert W. Campbell of Calgary passed away on Monday, September 1, 2008 at the age of 85 years. While he made a mark in the petroleum industry as “Bob Campbell,” he will be remembered as “R.W.” by his children and “Papa” by his grandchildren. He had a passion for reading (detective and western stories in particular), weekends at his cabin in the country, watching Nebraska’s Big Red and other college teams and spending time with his family. When he wasn’t conducting high level deals in the board room he was attending sporting events of his children and later his grandchildren. He wasn’t particularly handy around the house but was great at telling stories, sharing jokes, and supporting charitable organizations. Always just a phone call away, Bob would stay in touch with family and friends on a regular basis, beginning each conversation with “So, how’s your weather”. There wasn’t a dish of Gummi Worms that he could walk by without taking a handful. Bob spent his childhood in Cherry County Nebraska and graduated from Valentine High School in 1940. A small town boy who went on to do well in the big city. He attended Creighton University in Omaha and later enlisted in the Infantry in 1943, after Pearl Harbour. He retired with the rank of Captain in 1947 having served with the 101st Airborne Division in Europe and participating in the Rhineland Campaign in Holland and in the Ardennes Campaign in Belgium. Bob was wounded at Bastogne, Belgium on January 4, 1945 and spent two years in various hospitals. He received the Purple Heart with two clusters, the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre. Bob graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1950. He had a long and distinguished career in the oil business, beginning with Shell Oil Company in 1950. He held a series of executive positions with Home Oil Company Limited in Calgary, Canada and became chairman and chief executive officer of PanCanadian Petroleum Limited in 1971. He became vice chairman and chief executive officer of Canadian Pacific Enterprises Limited in 1982. Upon retirement in 1989 he held the position of chairman of Canadian Pacific Limited. He proudly served on several boards including AMCA International Limited, Canadian Pacific Limited, the Royal Bank of Canada, TransCanada Pipelines and other Canadian mining and industrial concerns as well as the boards of the Bank of Canada (Canada’s central bank), Westinghouse Corporation and Halliburton Company. He was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame 2006. Robert is survived by his wife, Joanne L. Campbell, of Calgary; sons, Michael J. Campbell and wife, Ann, of Woodstock, NB, Timothy L. Campbell and wife, Jennifer, of Calgary, and Daniel J. Campbell and wife, Kristy, of Englewood, CO; daughters, Christa A. Campbell and husband, Paul Henriksen, of Lopez, WA, Carey M. O’Brien and husband, Finbarr of Calgary, and Jane L. Campbell of Calgary; sixteen grandchildren; one great grandchild; sisters, Sister Connie M. Campbell, R.S.C.J. of Saratoga, CA., Sharon C. Melchior of Omaha, NE., Anne E. Marshall and husband Bob, of Omaha, NE; brother Richard L. Campbell, of Denver, CO; brother-in-law Robert Soener of Omaha, NE.; and sister-in-law Joan Campbell of Lincoln, NE. Bob was predeceased by father Harry L. Campbell; mother Margaret G. Campbell; step-mother Vina M. Campbell; brother Harry E. Campbell; sisters, Sister Susan M. Campbell, R.S.C.J. and Marie K. Heth; and brother, John N. Campbell. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church (5340 – 4th Street S.W.) on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church (5340 – 4th Street S.W.) on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Calgary Health Trust – Department of Clinical Neuro-Sciences at the Foothills Medical Centre, Suite 800, 11012 MacLeod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB T2J 6A5, Telephone: (403)943-0615, www.thetrust.ca or directly to the Inn from the Cold Society, Suite 104, 110 – 11th Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0X5, Telephone: (403) 263-8384, www.innnfromthecold.org. In living memory of Robert Campbell, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.