Janine Hess Campbell, 69, Marion, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. She was born in Grundy Center, Iowa, on April 18, 1957, to Gordon and Clesta (Hawbaker) Hess-Keller. On June 17, 1978 she married Richard Kent Campbell, and he survives.
Janine attended Auburn High School and graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She earned a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
She was an educator and clinical therapist who specialized in play therapy. In Bowling Green, Kentucky she taught 1st grade at Anchored Christian School and adults at Bowling Green Business School. She was also very active in the bus ministry and children’s worship at Glendale Baptist Church. After she and Richard moved to Lynchburg, VA to serve with the Jerry Falwell Ministries, Janine counseled adults at the Elim Home for Alcoholics; counseled and mentored women at the Sav-a-Baby Ministry and worked with inner-city elementary children at Thomas Road Baptist Church’s Good Samaritan Center.
In Wheaton, Illinois she served as a counselor and play therapist at the Evangelical Child and Family Agency, working with foster children and their families where she was excited to find her niche as a play therapist. She also was a math interventionist with international students in the public school system and led an after-school tutoring program for refugee students sponsored by World Relief.
Another love was serving Christ with her husband in Children’s Church and Vacation Bible School. She continued with that and tutoring children in Virginia and finally in Marion, Indiana. Her greatest delight in all of these roles was in finding ways to relate to children and encourage them to learn and succeed. But most importantly to teach them the love of Christ.
She cherished time with her husband, her children and her extended family. Janine was kind, inquisitive, funny and above all an enthusiastic lover of people, cows, and diet Dr. Pepper.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Kent Campbell of Marion; son, Miah Campbell; daughter, Bekah Campbell; mother, Clesta Hess-Keller; siblings, Herb (Jane) Hess, Harlan (Kitte) Hess, Tim (Anne) Hess, Joanne (Rocky) Ranch, Phil Hess; Jen (Doug) Witzig, Ben (Sally) Hess, David (Becky) Hess, and Josh (Kristy) Hess; 26 nieces and nephews; and 22 great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Gordon S. Hess and two unborn children.
The family will receive visitors from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Twin City Bible Baptist Church 7252 S. Meridian St., Marion, IN.
Following the time of visitation, a service to celebrate Janine’s life will begin at 10:00 am with Pastor Russell J. Leivers and Pastor Dale Schuiteman officiating. Burial will take place at Grant Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Twin City Bible Baptist Church in designation to the Janine/Orphan Care Ministry.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Memories may be shared at nswcares.com
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