Pearl Campbell

Pearl Campbell, 99, of Atlantic, Iowa, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Pearl Evonne Martens was born September 12, 1925, at home in Wiota, Iowa, the daughter of Max and Minnie (Lang) Martens. Pearl walked two miles each way to attend a country school near Wiota, attending until the 8th grade at which time she helped at home and on the farm. At the age of 16, Pearl came to Atlantic to live with her mother’s cousin who ran the Conklin Bakery. She worked at the bakery until the age of 17 when she went to work for her uncle, Max Kaplan, at the Blue Star Produce. It was raining one day after work and she was sitting on the dock waiting for it to stop so she could walk home when a young handsome fellow offered her a ride. Kenneth and Pearl were united in marriage on January 1, 1947, in Hiawatha, Kansas. They worked on the farm for a year then moved to Atlantic, Iowa, and Pearl went to work at the Atlantic News Telegraph, where she was employed for 35 years. She took some time off, but eventually went back to work at Akin Building Center where Kenneth worked and, eventually, where they both retired from.

Pearl was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic.

Before Pearl was married, she knew the importance of “mail call” to our servicemen, and wrote to many servicemen to boost their spirits and morale. Pearl received many letters from servicemen thanking her, one dated December 20, 1944, from Staff Sergeant Delbert Lee of Cumberland. Three weeks later Sergeant Lee was killed serving with General George S. Patton.

Kenneth and Pearl were always on the lookout for a rock to add to their collection, this was often what they did on vacations. They shared their collection with the elementary children at the school for many years and were members of the Nishna Valley Mineral and Gem Club. They belonged to the Whirl-A-Ways Square Dance Club for 12 ½ years and enjoyed ballroom dancing. They looked forward to meeting their friends for breakfast at the Downtowner, which Pearl continued after Kenneth’s death in 2012.

Pearl is survived by her great-nephews, Jerry (Suzanne) Pierce of Oakland and Terry (Deb) Pierce of Oakland; great-niece, Tami (Sid) Skank of Carson; nephews, Steve (Pam) Reed of Atlantic and Robin (Verlie) Reed of Minnesota; niece, Barb (Earl) Johnson of Minnesota; cousins, Jo Alyce (Mike) Newgaard of Mamaronek, NY and David (Karen) Kaplan of Cocoa, Florida; and great-great-nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Campbell; her parents, Max and Minnie Martens; brother, Levi Martens; and great-niece, Becky Pierce.

Visitation with the family present will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. At 2:30 p.m., we will go in procession to the First Lutheran Cemetery, south of Wiota, for a 3:00 p.m., Graveside service, with Pastor Kyle McBee of the Zion Lutheran Church Officiating.

The Graveside Service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by noon on Wednesday.

Memorials may be made directed to Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Pearl’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.