John S Camper II
Marriages
Arlene Clanton - March 10, 1951
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - May 3, 2015
John S. Camper
April 24, 1929 - April 29, 2015
John S. Camper, Maj. (Ret.) passed away April 29, 2015, at the Veterans Administration Community Living Center, after a lengthy illness. John was born on April 24, 1929, in Trenton, NJ, to Dr. Thomas E. and Mildred Ruth Camper. He attended schools in Delaware and Michigan, and graduated from Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo, IL in 1948. While there, he
met and fell in love with Arlene Clanton, of Rock Island, IL, and they later married on March 10, 1951. Upon graduation, John joined the U.S. Army. After serving a wartime tour in Korea, and 14 years as an enlisted man, John received a direct commission as an Infantry First Lieutenant. After another tour in Korea, and two more in Vietnam, John retired as a Major in 1972, at Ft. Carson, CO. While in the Army, John completed his college education, graduating with degrees in History and Economics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Highly decorated as a soldier, among many other honors John earned three Bronze Star medals and a Combat Infantryman badge. As a result of acquiring intelligence information from the North Vietnamese about a major planned offensive, John was sent home slightly early from his first tour in Vietnam after it was learned that the North Vietnamese had put a ‘price on his head’. That offensive later became known as the Tet Offensive. Following military service, John went into banking in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction, as a marketing and public relations manager. That work then took John and Arlene to Montana, where he supervised the marketing efforts of 15 banks in the state. After retiring from banking, John became an instructor for the State of Montana Professional Development Center, later serving as a Director. He retired for a final time in 2006, and Arlene retired from St. Peter’s Community Hospital, where she served as the Public Relations and Marketing Director. While living in Montana, John started the Helena Advertising Federation, and was highly active in Rotary, serving as Club President and later as District Governor in 1998-1999. Along with Arlene, John was active in his church and community, and helped sponsor the Western Rendezvous of Art held annually in Helena. Together they enjoyed many travel adventures, as well
as social and outdoor activities in Montana. In 2012, John and Arlene were pleased to move back to Grand Junction to be
closer to family. John is survived by Arlene, his wife of 64 years; as well as two children, Susan Craven of Wheat Ridge, CO (who was adopted from Korea during John’s second tour there); John and Teresa Camper of Grand Junction, and grandchildren, Rebecca and Christopher Molstad, Bossier City, LA, and Julie and Peter Baumgartner, Highlands Ranch, CO. John was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Jean Millholland, and an infant daughter, Cynthia Diane.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 4, from 5 - 7:00 p.m., at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand
Junction, CO. Services, with military honors, will take place at The Grand Junction Church of Christ, 2893 Patterson Road. on Tuesday, May 5, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s name to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693. John and his family were extremely grateful for the loving care that he received at the VA Community Living Center in the final months of his life, and contributions may also be made to Grand Junction VA Medical Center, Hospice/CLC Fund, Customer Relations Dept., 2121 North Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - May 2, 2015
John S. Camper II, 86, Grand Junction, died April 29, 2015, at the Grand Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grand Junction Church of Christ. Mr. Camper was a retired major in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his wife Arlene; one son, John of Grand Junction; one daughter, Susan Craven of Wheat Ridge; and two grandchildren. Memorial contributions to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693; or the Grand Junction VA Medical Center Hospice/CLC Fund Customer Relations Department, 2121 North Ave., Grand Junction 81501.
