Jerry Joe Campbell

Jerry Joe Campbell, 83 of Wichita, Kansas, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026 in Wichita.

Born on August 10, 1943, in Eureka, Kansas, Jerry lived a vibrant, active life defined by his service, strong work ethic deep love of music and passion for mentoring others.

After proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force, Jerry built a diverse and dedicated career.  He worked at Sharpe Army Depot, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Zellerbach Paper Company, King Bearing, Delta Microfilm Service, and a variety of other places;  later lending his friendly expertise and helpful hand to a local hardware store, where he enjoyed connecting with people every day.

Outside of work, Jerry's energy truly shone through his many passions.  He had a deep love of music and became well-known for teaching line dancing, bringing joy and community to everyone on the dance floor.  He also enjoyed gardening, shared his competitive spirit and mentorship with students as a volleyball coach at Cowley Community College, and dedicated his time to supporting his community through volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and general volunteer work at community projects.

Jerry lived by a few favorite guiding thoughts and expressions that reflected his spirit:

"All gave some - some gave all."

"I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up."

"Dance like nobody is watching."

"It's a grand old flag - so respect it!"

Jerry is survived by his loving family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He will also be missed by the many friends, students, and dancers whose lives he touched over the years.

A celebration of his life will be held to honor his memory.  A funeral service will take place on November 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the Winfield Veterans Cemetery in Kansas.  This will be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Arkansas City Senior Center from 3 - 5 p.m.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, or a charity of your choice.