Ronald G. Campagna

May 14th, 1938 - January 15th, 2023

Ronald 's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Ronald here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

My mother joyfully met my father in the pearly gates of Heaven last night. My father was 84 years old and had eight children and taught us many life lessons we have passed down to our families. Faith, Courage and Enthusiasm what our dad was all about! My parents have been blessed also with twenty grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren! We are so blessed to know what a big family is and having a strong foundation of unconditional love growing up. My dad was a good father and taught us love and how to be a family. Meals were very important to eat together as well as pray together. Both are very important lessons that we all have carried down through our families. When we were kids my dad would give us rides holding onto his arms and we were amazed of his strength. Up until 80 he would want to try another man's arm strength. We would laugh and he was and is always our hero. Before he shaved he would take our hand on his unshaved face and say see how rough your face is and then take our other hand on our face and say see how smooth my face is and we would laugh then he would dabble us with shaving cream on our nose. Thank you dad for making big endless bowls of popcorn on the stove and sacrificing working so hard to feed us. We were thrilled when you brought home bags of broken cookies from Maurice Lennel. Dad always told each of us and his grandchildren to carry on the faith of the family. He loved each of us and worked hard to make sure we always were fed, had shelter and felt loved. He taught us to save and look for the deals shopping at the grocery store. We always enjoyed mom's chicken matzo ball soup and thankful for knowing we were safe. Thank you for making my children feel special singing Rosie you are my Posie song & our red heads were blessed from great grandmother, Lill. Thank you for working hard and making South Haven our second home to all of our families. It was where we would always come and feel the warmth of dad and mom welcome everyone. We loved just having time together and embracing the sunsets together. Your favorite was butter pecan ice-cream, Knights of Columbus breakfast after St. Basil's church and being prolife to make choices of life for us. We are thankful for your love, courage and choosing family over anything. Dad would say prayers before meals and then we would eat together. We all had chores and before we could go out with our friends we would have to say the Rosary. At the time I didn't like it but helped with my faith to know that God is our strength. To this day eating meals as a family is most important and to be thankful for our blessings. Dad had many jobs before he worked for many years as a Machinery Mover/Rigger for Local 136. You always said marrying your bride was the best decision. Your wedding rings were engraved inside 'Together to Heaven'. Dearest dad you are now in heaven with mom. I am honored to be able to carry on your lovely brides name, Alfreda. We will always love you and mom!

Alfreda 'Freda' Venen

January 19th, 2023 at 10:51am

The Angels and Saints and more importantly Mom greeted my Dad at the pearly gates yesterday evening. Ronald Campagna lived 84 years. I was blessed to be with him as his soul transitioned. There are many life lessons he taught us eight children, grand children and great grandchildren. He was alert during his final hours. He received communion. We played music. We sang softly. He quieted us; as Dad did. I noted his beloved scapular on the side table. I asked, he nodded and put his scapular on him and told him he would go right to heaven. You loved praying the Rosary. You taught us how to pray. He drank his favorite chocolate shake for lunch. We had a really special moment and that has been comforting. It’s a relief knowing our world passed away and that his spirit is now eternal. We are thankful for your humor, courage and catholic values. R.C.: Royal Crown Cola, Roman Catholic, Ronald Campagna. You were a man of Faith, Courage, reminding us to save our Pennies and Enthusiasm! You respected all human life from conception to death. You taught us unconditional love. You could have made different choices but you didn’t. You were a faithful father. We remember your love for butter pecan ice cream, strawberry shortcake and butter scotch hard candy. We shared. You also expected us to rise and stand up for our beliefs. We remember making and at times going breakfast together after Sunday mass. I’ll never forget our trips down the Generic isle at Jewel! You worked and worked. You didn’t complain about the work. We played too. We Jumped in waves as Lake Michigan churned. You loved the water and music. When you shaved you put shaving cream on our nose for watching you. How We laughed! Thank you. You lifted us and gave us rides in your arms. Daddy taught how to shake hands when we needed to make a worthy impression. We sang together in choir. You preached and preached. You have a really nice voice. I will remember you. You shared poetry under the pen name- Ronald George. I remember your Chevy Suburban! Thrifting. I remember you going to three different stores to get groceries and making every penny count. I remember you sharing the envelope system of money management and oh how you defended life. We meet again, your voice is in my soul. Thank you for wanting baby #8 and creating the spelling of my name, Jozel.

Jozel Campagna Shwatal

January 18th, 2023 at 12:48pm

Ron was like a father to me also his wife Alfreda was like a mom. I met them 30 years ago and they rented me an apartment to me and my husband and daughter Valerie. We lived there for several years then they introduced us to South Haven Michigan where we live now. We always try to help those folks out as they helped us. He will be missed by many. May he RIP. All my love and prayers to the family Dianna