| Location | Debary |
| Age | 56 years |
| Cause of Death | Epilepsy |
| Date of Birth | 28/10/1952 |
| Date of Death | 14/07/2009 |
| Visitors | 1,056 since 18/07/2009 |
| Creator |
Craig Harry Camplin died unexpectedly at his home in DeBary, FL, on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Craig was the fourth son born to Davis and Evelyn Camplin in Creighton, NE, October 12, 1952. In 1970 he married Debbie Duncan. He graduated from the University of NE, Kearney, in 1970 and earned a Masters Degree from Wayne State College. In the fall of 1974 he began teaching English and German at Stanton High School, Stanton NE. In 1986 he and Debbie divorced. On December 30th 1998 Craig and Cynthia Wheeler were married in Omaha, Nebraska. Craig taught in Omaha at the Juvenile Detention Center for three years before moving to DeBary Florida in 2002. He spent his last years playing guitar and singing in a Rock and Roll band. Craig is survived by his wife, Cynthia; two sons and a daughter; Jon and Lisa Camplin of Edwards Air Force Base, CA, Geoffrey Camplin of Lincoln, NE, and Meredith and Matt Stegman of Lincoln, NE; two step children Aaron and Christine Wheeler of DeBary, FL, and Angel Wheeler and Kevin LaSpada of DeBary, FL; two brothers, Doug Camplin of Grand Island, NE, and Lynn Camplin of Westminster, CO; three grandchildren, Kyle, Kelsey, and Luke; and five step-grandchildren Raven, Dylan, Corbin, Gavin, Zoey. He was preceded in death by his parents, Davis and Evelyn Camplin, and his eldest brother Davis L. Camplin. Craig was gentle and loving, and a dependable man who will be missed by family, friends, and former students.
Uncle Craig
What wonderful things people have said about my uncle. I wish that I had known him better. I will miss knowing that he is out there...laughing that Camplin laugh. That laugh will continue with Jon and Jeffery and Meredith. Craig left his mark on this world with his kids...and he will never be forgotten.
Mr. Camplin's love for music...
I would like to add another tribute and memory about Mr. Craig Camplin. In my sophmore year of high school, Stanton High, we had the opportunity to sign up for some 'fun' classes, between first and second semesters. after Christmas. I signed up for "Beatles Music Appreciation Class," or something like that! Mr. Camplin was the teacher. I always liked listening to the Beatles' music. Mr. Camplin also enjoyed their music as well, and his enthusiasm was contagious! I came to enjoy the Beatles even more!
I could come up with so many more things to say about him. He was not only a really good teacher, but a wonderful person as well.
Julie Vranicar,
Columbus, NE
July 26, 2009
I was saddened to read of the sudden death of Mr. Craig Camplin, on July 14, 2009. He was my English teacher in high school, actually, my favorite teacher. He was very encouraging, and any exam I took, any paper I wrote, would be given back to me with comments like, "Way to Go!!" or "Fantastic Work!!" "Keep it up!" I enjoyed English to begin with, so in taking his classes, I came to appreciate the love of Literature even more.
I know you will be missed by many people, Craig. Your family, friends, and all the students you taught. You touched a lot of lives, and I thank you for being an inspiration in mine!
Craig was my favorite and best teacher at Stanton, NE high school in the 1970s. He connected with his students in a way that few teachers did, and he gave me a love and appreciation for literature that has lasted a lifetime.
I had not corresponded with Craig for many years, but I certainly have clear and fond memories of him from Stanton. I was very sorry to learn of his passing, and offer my condolences to his family.
Dave Vranicar
Overland Park, KS
July 2009
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. "
Henry Adams
Very few people shove your life in the very direction it is going. Craig Camplin was one of those for many, many people.
What he has left with us is incalculable, and the world is a brighter place for having had him around. In my silly years of High School Craig found a way to inspire serious thought through the countless books he steered me towards. And those thoughts took the shape of life while sitting on his couch talking or playing some music in his basement.
Thanks Mr. Camplin
RIP
Craig was a fellow teacher in the early '80's in Stanton. It was my first teaching job and Craig was always very supportive. What began as a professional friendship quickly grew into a personal friendship. I look back on the great times in the Teacher's Lounge on 3rd floor - much laughter and fellowship. Since his room was next door to the lounge, he always knew what was going on whether he was there or not.
Craig loved his students and and had many great discussions with them.
My sympathies to the entire family - Craig truly is gone too soon!
Clay H. Blackman
Omaha NE
Stanton
We just had our 30th class reunion in Stanton and we were talking about our teachers and of course Craig's name came up. I enjoyed having him as a teacher and also I was lucky to be in a band in Stanton with him called the Empke Orchestra. We had some really good times and will always remember him. Craig and his family will be in my prayers. Diane Pohlman Mouchka
Brother Craig
My first memory of anything about Craig was me running through Ryan’s’ General store on Creighton main street hollering to Grandma, “Mommy just had a baby boy!” Grandma shushed me which was fairly normal since those of you who know me know I’m pretty noisy. And then she went about finding a name for him as she did for us all. G. Douglas Camplin was Gary Dee Dee, I was Lynny Tin, Rodney Ewald was Rodney Podney and Craig, the pride of the family though mother, who had three boys already would have loved to have a girl to dress up, became Craigy Babe and that stuck although, later it got changed to CB as Lynny Tin became LT.
This became a big deal when I came to know him as an adult. Whenever we had literary arguments, and they were many and long and full of joy and comradery, he had the trump card, “Well, some of us are Masters with Masters degrees.” Although, truthfully, as I remember, I just went on talking.
I’ll always cherish the love and fellowship of these arguments and thank him for them.
Unfortunately, Craig was plagued with epilepsy all his adult life. He didn’t have little seizures, but grand mal seizures which left him battered and bruised and wondering what happened. It took him days to recover from these terrible electrical storms. He took tons of pills that maybe helped but didn’t stop the seizures; he had a brain operation that maybe helped some but didn’t stop the seizures.
He lived life knowing that at any time, at any place, virtually, a gang of thugs would appear from nowhere and beat him half to death.
We talked about epilepsy but I never heard a word of complaint. In fact he’d joked about his reading material costing so little because he would get to the end of a book before he realized he’d already read it and he might do the same thing with the same book the next day. Having your mind shredded every few months or weeks is terrible for anybody and especially for a scholar. He was a lesson in courage and lack of self pit that helped me overcome some of my minor afflictions.
Craig was a generous man. For a short time, perhaps twenty years, I had a small drug and alcohol problem. If I had to call him from jail there were no incriminations just, “Where can I pick you up and how can I help you from here.” I was broke and homeless and before I could ask if I could stay with him, he’d ask me to stay.
I need to point out here that I have be blessed with three wonderful brothers, all gracious and kind and considerate and funny and smart and I can’t afford to loose any of them and I’ve lost two. Most of what I’m saying about Craig’s high qualities apply to Larry and Douglas, the last of my dear brothers.
Craig was a great father. Nothing came before his children. Sometimes I’d be complaining about one or the other. Jon, for instance, in his high school days, was easy to complain about. Craig would agree and smile and we’d laugh about it and go on. I didn’t have much of a chance to know his younger children: Geoffrey and Meredith but I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with Jon whom I love dearly and doubt that he would be such a stalwart member of the community without a kind, understanding, strong, forgiving father.
May God Bless you!!
Uncle Craig,
I wish I would have had the chance to know you more but from what I do know you were a great man and will be in my heart forever. You kept my Dad company and for that I am eternally grateful. I know the Lord has good plans for you and I also know that you are now in a better place feeling no pain or suffering. You will however be very missed and I am sure you will be an angel watching over all of us!! I love you always,
Kathleen Camplin
with a thankful heart
Craig was my teacher in the late 70's/early 80's. We had an absolute blast in his Writer's Workshop class. He also directed our plays. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his death and my sympathy goes out to everyone in his family.
Sincerely,
Sharyn Whipple Ostrem
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