Erich Campbell 1965-2025
Honorable Judge Erich Geiger Campbell, retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel, 60, of Onaga, formerly of Holton, passed away Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at Topeka VA Medical Center.
He was born July 30, 1965, in Grand Rapids, Minn., the son of Dougals H. Campbell and Helga (Geiger) Campbell.
Erich graduated from Greenway High School in 1984. He attended Itaska Community College for two years and Bemidji State University and Washburn University, earning his master’s degree.
In 1986, Erich joined the Army National Guard, serving until 1988. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1988 to 2016 until he retired, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During this time, he served seven tours of duty, two tours in Iraq, two tours in Kosovo, two tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Saudi Arabia; he was injured in one of the Iraq tours.
Following his military career, Erich was an adjunct at Washburn University and later Judge Magistrate of the Second Judicial District, retiring in 2025 due to health reasons.
He was a Boy Scout Leader, a member of Holton V.F.W. Post 1367, chosen for the Honor Flight in 2023, a member of Tribal Judicial Forum, a member of the Language Access Committee and a long-time member of the GEEZERS.
Erich was married to Rebecca Rom for 16 years. They later divorced.
He married Cornelia Carolina “Roline” Scholtz in 2000 in Pretoria, South Africa. She survives.
Other survivors include his mother, Helga Campbell of Grand Rapids, Minn.; his father, Doug Campbell of Ft. Ripley, Minn.; stepmother, Karen Springer of Bigfork, Minn.; two daughters, Emily Henry (Curtis) of Alaska and Allison Campbell of Wichita; a son, Johan Campbell of Holton; two sisters, Erika Campbell of Grand Rapids, Minn., and Traci Dougherty of Crystal, Minn.; and his beloved and dearest companion, Christine E. Beaver of Onaga.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Bigfork Cemetery in Bigfork, Minn.
Memorials may be given to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
