Jean Agnes Kampen's Obituary
Jean Agnes Kampen was born on February 13, 1955, and passed away on October 29, 2018 in Tacoma Washington, her hometown for 38 years. Those are the chronological bookends of her earthly life, but not the STORY of our sister, Jeannie.
Jeannie was born in Culbertson, Montana because she didn’t see a reason to wait any longer to get to the hospital in Williston ND where she was supposed to be born. A trait for punctuality and purpose that remained throughout her life. She became the baby of the family and joined her parents Gudrun (Vik) Kampen and Carl Kampen on the family farm west of Reserve, Montana. Her three older siblings, Carol, Gordy and Mary Anne welcomed her with varying degrees of anticipation. Because she wasn’t a new brother, Gordy wanted to sell her a neighbor for $35 so he could buy a new bike. Growing up on a prairie farm in the late 50s and 60s proved a great adventure, enhanced by numerous nearby farm kids as well a big extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. Jean began first grade in the one-room Rock Springs school house about a mile from the farm, transferred to Medicine Lake and graduated from high school there in 1973. She attended a secretarial school in Great Falls for a year, but later attended Eastern Montana College(now known as Montana State University – Billings) where she received her Bachelor of Art degree in education. After graduation, Jean threw away her ice scraper, vowing to move somewhere she wouldn’t need one. Sister Carol was living in Tacoma so that seemed like a good place to start. Jeannie headed West, put down roots, and never moved again.
Initially Jean held some unusual jobs, i.e. a Norwegian fish cake company managed remotely from Norway, before being hired by the City of Tacoma energy conservation office. She became quite a champion of energy conservation and would covertly inspect our homes’ light fixtures, uttering a slight tsk of disapproval when she spotted an old incandescent bulb being used. We were quick to make the change to the new energy saving variety, once Jeannie made us “see the light”. (Pun intended. Jeannie would love it.)
Jeannie retired after many years with the City but didn’t slow up. She worked part-time at a number of ventures just to keep busy, and filled in at her church office when needed. She had more free time to travel and discovered cruising was great! Trips with family and friends through the Panama Canal, Alaska, Norway, Rhine River, and the sights of London and Paris were a few of the trips. Her most recent outing was a memory making “Sisters Trip” to Victoria this September with Carol, Mary Anne and Myrna.
Jean sang in a number of musical groups in Pierce County, with a love of music that had been instilled in her by her mother, Gudrun. In fact being a non-singer in the Vik family clan was never an option for any of us, and music in high school choir and band was not an elective, it was a requirement. But who would have thought though, that Jeannie, a Montana farm kid, would someday be singing in a gospel choir at Peace Lutheran Church? Jean loved her church and was involved in many many aspects of it. If she saw a need and regardless of the task, Jean took her involvements seriously. Whether it was to walk a picket line or to work at an animal shelter, Jean was committed, a hard worker, reliable and ready to pitch in with a steady cheerfulness of service wrapped up in a tender heart and great sense of humor.
Jean is survived by her sister, Carol Watson of Tacoma, her sister, Mary Anne (Frank) Fowells of Plentywood, Montana, and her sister-in-law, Myrna Kampen of Reserve, Montana. She also is survived by nieces Rhonda Capps, Roslynn Watson, and Erin Kampen; nephews James Watson, JR, Jerome Watson, Jerry Watson, and Ty Kampen; Great-nephews: Sam, David and Josh Means, and great-nieces: Jackie and Samantha Capps, Brittany Johnson-Watson, Angelica and Zidea Watson; a number of Great-great nieces and nephews. And last but not least, all her Vik and Kampen cousins.
What’s your fondest memory of Jean?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jean?
Share a story where Jean's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jean you’ll never forget.
How did Jean make you smile?