Sallie Joan Campbell

Sallie was a gracious, courageous, long-suffering servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Long-suffering in her battle with Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years, she chose not to question why she was carrying such a burden, instead chose to share her love of Christ. Sallie left a lasting impact on all who were blessed to meet her as she embodied the Fruits of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To know her was to love her.
Sallie was born March 18, 1937 in Kalamazoo to Helmert Johannes Duisterhof and Cornelia (nee Zegers) Duisterhof. Sallie, her mother and two brothers lived between homes in Kalamazoo and Crooked Lake after losing her father to illness in a POW camp at the end of the Bataan Death March. Sallie attended Western Michigan University where she received a BA in Home Economics. Soon after, Dow Corning hired her in Midland for a job in the textiles lab, where she immediately caught the eye of her now devoted husband of 55 years, James Kermit Campbell. Married April 14, 1962, the couple began their joy filled life together, having two children then beginning an eventful time in Sully, Wales and Waterloo, Belgium. There Sallie enjoyed expanding her culinary repertoire. Gifting baked goods and hosting dinner parties became one of her love languages.

Following a year in Massachusetts in 1976 when Kermit attended MIT, the family returned to Midland. Sallie quickly became involved in Midland Reformed Church Women's Ministries, Stephen Ministries and served in the RCA denomination. That service continued in Holland, Michigan where Kermit served as the President of Herman Miller.

A move to Traverse City led her to service at Faith Reformed Church, Old Mission Women's Club and outreach with dear friends. Sallie and Kerm's interest in viticulture, that began in Europe, led to purchasing the farm now known as Black Star Farms where they celebrated their 40th anniversary with a lifetime of friends and their 50th with family.

Preceding Sallie in death were her parents Cornelia and Helmert Duisterhof, sister Margaret Ann and brother Bruce. She is survived by her husband Kermit, brother Gordon (Merlyn) Duisterhof, son and daughter, James (Cathy) Campbell and Sherri(Robert) Fenton, grandchildren; Jennifer, Gabrielle, Jonathan, RJ, and Katarina, great grandchildren; Isabella, Campbell Stokes, Lorelei, Donovan, Kaelyn.
Sallie joined her Lord surrounded by the love of family.

A celebration of her beautiful life will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017, 11:00 a.m. at Faith Reformed Church. A visitation will be held 5-7pm Friday October 6th at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home, and again 10:00 Saturday at the church preceding the service. Her remains will interred at the Garden of Remembrance at First Congregational Church in Traverse City.

To honor Sallie and the characteristics that Kerm and her family loved so much about her, they are asking you to join them in establishing Sallie's Garden: A Park of Reflection and Hope, through gifts contributed to the Sallie J. Campbell Eagle Village Memorial Fund.
For more information, find us online at eaglevillage.org or call 231 832-2234