Obituary of Louis Alvin Lou CAMPBELL

Lou was a believer in dreaming big, living large, and helping others. Lou was born January 8, 1920 to John and Annie Cambpell in Rose Lynn, AB. He went to be with his Lord on February 22, 2016 at the age of 96 years. No fan of formal education or discipline, he left the Hanna School at the age of 14, in the middle of the Great Depression, and went out to try his luck in the world. He rode the rails doing odd jobs and living in hobo jungles, worked in a mine, as a farmer’s helper, and did a brief stint in the RCAF. He found his niche in heavy construction machinery when his brother-in-law, Herb Dickieson got him a job as a parts pick-up man with Industrial Road Equipment. He taught himself diesel mechanics and went on to become the North American Used Equipment Manager with the Euclid Division of General Motors in Akron, Ohio. Lou left GM and moved back to Calgary to work for and eventually become a partner in Ferguson Supply Alberta Limited and CPC Sales and Rentals, companies that had nine branches in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. While there, he designed and patented “The Helpmate Hitch”, which sold around the world. Lou went on to retire many times after that for he was always interested in new things and ideas. In his thirties, he went to a lecture by a man named Jim Jones on a life success program called “If You Can Count To Four.” Lou bought the rights to the book and credited the lecture and the book for the success he had in his life. Later in life, he used the Counting to Four program to teach aspiring entrepreneurs to plan and reach for success. When he wasn’t teaching, he wrote his biography and a textbook and workbook based on the Count to Four theory. This was a book that he wanted to take to high schools, prisons, and anywhere where there would be people who needed a new way to look at life and achieve their dreams. Unfortunately his body began to fail so this dream was never achieved. On his 96th birthday, 25 people gathered to celebrate. Lou knew each one of them and traded stories about their role in his life. Lou and Bill W. were friends for 61 years. Esther Valerio was a very special friend to Lou. He very much enjoyed the time they spent together talking and playing cribbage. Esther has spent many years visiting with Lou and in recent times, she devoted an hour each day with him. The family is very thankful for her care and love for Lou. Lou is survived by his daughter Myrna; son-in-law Rick Balbi; granddaughters Louisa Balbi and Delia (Michael) Wieser; nephews Tom (Beth) and Bob (Carla) Campbell and Allan (Olga) Dickieson; and niece Marlene (John) and their daughter Nicole Chorny. He was predeceased by his parents Annie (nee McKechnie) and John Campbell; sisters Gladys, Margaret, and Alice and half brother Gordon Allan Campbell; wife Delia (nee Quast); and son John Alvin Campbell. Lou’s family would like to thank all of the staff at the Colonel Belcher Residence, Dr. Torrie, Jackie Drake RLPN, the Veterans Angels and the phenomenal caregivers from Nurse Next Door. A celebration of Lou’s life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W. Calgary, AB) on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 2:30pm. A Graveside Service will be held in Hanna, Alberta at the Campbell Family site at a later date. Condolences may be forward through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. As nice as flowers would be, Lou would appreciate it if you made a donation to Calgary Dream Centre, 4510 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, AB T2G 0A4, https://calgarydreamcetnre.com In living memory of Lou Campbell, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.