"With Deep Sympathy to All. Jan Headley"
In loving memory of
Gary Kampa
November 4, 1954 - August 5, 2018
Gary Lee Kampa, 63, of Lewiston died Sunday evening at his home. Gary was born November 4, 1954 in Winona to Raymond and Beulah (Schafer) Kampa. He lived in St. Charles until moving to Dover with his family in 1959. Gary graduated with honors from Dover-Eyota High School in 1972. Following high school he attended Morningside College in Souix City, IA for a year. He then began working for Menards before beginning his career with UBC in Winona. With UBC Gary began as a yard man, then worked as assistant manager and manager as the company renamed in to Pro Build and later as Builders First Source. In his current role Gary worked with IT. Gary and Bridgette "Bird" Millen were married December 9, 1978. They lived in St. Charles until moving to Fremont and later to Lewiston.
Gary loved his grandchildren and enjoyed teasing them and playing practical jokes. His competitive nature was displayed playing cribbage and Trivial Pursuit.
Survivors include his wife Bridgette "Bird", two children Mike (Melissa) Kampa of Lewiston and Jessica (Mike) Mulvaney of Spring Valley, grandchildren; Adam, Evan, Alaina, Orin and Omri Kampa, Evelyn and Cooper Mulvaney, a sister Bonnie Kampa of Rochester and a brother Glen Kampa of Stewartville. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Ella, his parents and two brothers, Wayne and Calvin.
Services to remember Gary will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in St. Charles, led by funeral celebrant, Dianne Rislow. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home on Thursday. Please share a memory of Gary at his online quest book and view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tributes
"Bird, and Family. Sorry for your loss and that I could not make it down for the service. I have great memories growing up with Gary when we lived on the farm. He will be greatly missed. Rest in peace and God bless you all."
"Bird, I am sorry to hear that Gary had past!! So very young! My thoughts and prayers are with you and family at this time. Gary I remember him as such a nice funny guy who loved you dearly and you him. Heaven got another good guy is what I know! Love and Hugs sent your way. Tammy "Schweitzer" Christian"
"Bridgette and Family , Our deepest sympathy on your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Dan & Karen Plank and Ryan & Sara Schaefer"
"My deepest sympathy to you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"My deepest sympathy to you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"So many memories with my uncle Gar-bear. Summers spent with them. Christmas Eve making snowman's .. sledding..hot coco..great food and gifts to open. Many late nights playing with my cousins while our parents played cards. He enjoyed scaring me. His kindness and patience I'll remember most. I'm greatful for the memories he will always have a special place in my heart..uncle Gary and auntie Bird were like second parents to me. "
"Dear Bridgette and family. You don't know me, but I was in the 1972 DEHS graduating class with Gary and am so sorry to hear of Gary's death. From the video one can see he really did enjoy his family and that will leave special memories for you to hold on to; especially to help soften the heartbreak that will flood over you at times in the months and years to come. His life was cut way too short and for that I feel for you and your family. God bless you now and in the months ahead. Classmate, Connie Abernathy-Ness"
"My sympathies to the family, esp. Glen. Sheri Adams-Severson"
"So very sorry for your loss, Bird. Thinking of you and your family. Kay O'Dea"
"My condolences to Gary's family. A friend during high school, Gary was 1-year ahead of me. Played baseball together and always a nice guy."
"Sorry for your loss. Sending prayers and hugs. "
"I have the utmost respect for the person I came to admire for his way of helping out every time I called with an IT question or problem. If he didn't know the answer, he found out and called back. He was a class act professionally, and never seemed to be frustrated with the encumbrances of corporate life. I will miss his willingness to listen and come up with solutions. I will miss his servant attitude to all, no matter how many directions he was pulled in. Butch Klooster"
"To the kampa family I'm sorry for your loss Gary was a good and funny guy. "
"Bird, Jessica, and family. Sorry for your loss. I did not know Gary but you can see from the video how much he loved his family. May those good memories help comfort you in this time of sorrow"
"I had the opportunity to work with Gary when he was a store manager and also when he ran the Timber Roots Distribution Center in Winona. Than a few years later we crossed paths at the Annex in Winona when he worked for IT. What a wonderful man and co-worker, always spoke highly of his family. A friend forever. Our prayers go out to the family. Randy Hartkopp"
"I have worked with Gary for several years...wonderful person, rest in Peace sir..."
"I worked with Gary at ProBuild & Builders FirstSource. Recently, he attended training with me, and he remembered me from our ProBuild days which were years ago. It made me feel super special. He was a wonderful person and will be missed. Prayers, condolences and love to his family. "
"Bird and family, Sorry to hear of Gary's passing. We did not know Gary real well, but when seeing him at reunions and gatherings, had good conversations with him. We respected him, and knew that he loved you, and took good care of you. May you find comfort in God's grace in this time of sorrow. Circumstances change, but God's love and faithfulness will always be there. May you draw closer to Him in this time of sorrow. Blessings and prayers for you in this time of grieving, Paul and Janet Ask"
"I worked with Gary for many years. I'm so sorry for your loss, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Pam Minko"
"Such a good guy to work with, smart and funny and nice. Sorry Bird you have to go thru this. Thinking of you and your family."
"Such a good guy to work with, smart and funny and nice. Sorry Bird you have to go thru this. Thinking of you and your family."
"I worked with Gary at Menards back in 1977. You have my deepest sympathy. Grandkids are the best! Deb Logan Byron Mn"
"I worked with Gary for several years at UBC, he was a prankster at times, but most of all he had a can do attitude when things needed to get done. My condolences to you Brigette and family, Gary left us way to early"
"I worked with Gary in the 70's at Menards. What I remember was that Gary was a very hard worker and a man of integrity. I lost track of Gary after he left Menards but as a grandpa myself I can imagine the love Gary had for his family and particularly his grandchildren. I'm sure he made and left his family strong and sure of his love. Keep Gary close in your hearts"
"Oh Bird,Mike,Jess I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Gary. He will always have a special place in my heart ,he always knew how to keep the girls in the kitchen happy with the bowls of tootsie rolls and chocolates. He will be missed."
"I never met Gary in person (me being in Denver) but I worked with him a lot over the last several years. Such a pleasure to know him even in this way. He will be missed."
"Gary always attended all the family events and was always there to help Cal like ripping up our bathroom and replacing. "
"Thinking of you, Bird, and the kids and grandkids. I hope all of the good memories will carry you through this difficult time. Hugs and prayers. "
"I was so sorry to hear about Uncle Gary's passing. I will remember getting together at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Wabasha and Cal, Gary, Glen and my dad sitting at the card table playing Trivial Pursuit. I loved that he made a point to try and come to as many gatherings he could because he knew our dad couldn't be there. Love and thoughts and prayers to everyone as you go through this difficult time. "
"I worked with Gary in Winona. After my first grandchild was born he said how nice it was to have grandkids. He said he lived just a few houses away from some of his grandchildren and he gets to see them all the time. I asked if they come over to the house a lot and he said they did. I asked if that gets tiring having kids around all the time and he said, no, he loved seeing them. He said if they didn't come over to see him then he went over to see them. He was so happy to be a Grandpa and loved every minute of it. I hope I can be that kind of grandparent! I am so thankful for having had the chance to meet Gary. He helped me so much when I was first hired. I am going to miss our morning meetings at the coffee pot. I'm going to miss him. My prayers go out to his family and to all that knew and loved him. "