Ralph J. McCampbell

Ralph J. McCampbell, 88 of Whiting and Monticello, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 22, 2023 in Monticello. He was the beloved husband of the late Phyllis (nee Pieters) who passed away on December 24, 1997; loving father of Margie (Keith) Kelderhouse, Nancy (William, “Squid”) Dunn, Ralph (late fiancé, Stefanie Bakajza) McCampbell, Steven “Slicko” McCampbell, Tom (Sue) McCampbell, Michael (Michelle) McCampbell; cherished grampa of  George (Jessica) Wilkins, Kurt Kelderhouse, Kevin (Jessica) Kelderhouse, Heather (Chris) Boettger, Amanda (Paul) Rathje, Katie (fiancé Shaun Williams), Kelderhouse, Lindsey (Tucker) Hale, Kyle Kelderhouse, Amelia “Molly” (Alex Pulido), Kasen, Jayce Dunn, Ashley (fiancé, Scott Sharpe), Alex (Dana) McCampbell, Alison (Garrett) Graves, Steve, Abigail McCampbell, Patrick, Matthew, Michael (Linda Landaverde) McCampbell, Collin (Kaelyn Price), Quinn McCampbell; great grampa of Madison, Emily Wilkins, Lily, Rudy, Jack, Isaac, Kaitlynn, Karter Kelderhouse, Isabelle, Violet & Bryan Boettger, Kamryn, Bailey, Bryce (Jenna Kilgore), Brody Sluis, Kaylee (John), Redeker, Mason Rathje, Danny, Patrick, Kacie, Kelsey Clancy, Jonathan, Lola & Layla Williams, Zachary Vargo, Ember Sharpe, Joslyn, Kamron McCampbell, Morgan Johnson, Cayden Jones, Avery, Mackenzie, Olivia Graves; great, great grampa of Gracie Kelderhouse, Kaveri Redeker, Bentley Sluis; dear brother-in-law of Dorothy (late Thomas) Pieters, JoAnne (late Joseph) Pieters, Carol (late Raymond) Pieters and Frank (late Margaret) Grubach; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dolores McCampbell.

A Celebration of Ralph’s Life will be held on Monday, July 24, 2023 at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting from 4:00 to 8:00p.m. (Wake Service at 7:00p.m.)  A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:00am (gathering time from 10:00a.m.) at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 119th Street & Lincoln Avenue, Whiting, with the Rev. Gregory Holicky, officiating.The Mass will be live-streamed at www.stjohnbap.org. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on-line at www.baranfh.com.

Ralph McCampbell was born on March 31, 1935 to Ralph and Emma (Bodney) McCampbell and was a lifelong resident of the Calumet Region. He was a graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, Class of 1953 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Purdue University, LaFayette, IN. He began his career as a pharmacist, apprenticing under Ernest Korosi at Central Drugs, Whiting. He opened Area Pharmacy (119th Street and Superior Avenue) and retired from Walgreens. He was a US Army Veteran, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant and was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting, where he had participated with the Marian Theatre Guild. A proud member of the NRA, Ralph enjoyed hunting, fishing, wood carving, the time spent on Shafer Lake and being surrounded by his grandchildren. Devoted to his family, Ralph will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the SHARE Foundation for the Handicapped, would be appreciated. 

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