We Remember

CAMPBELL, Leslie

Les Campbell passed away peacefully on July 14, 2021, in the afternoon at Glenmore Lodge.

If you knew Les you would likely describe him as a warm friendly person, with a great sense of humor, who knew the Bible in depth and who had a deep relationship with God. You would also quickly discover that he loved food, especially scones, and he hated peanut butter.

Les Campbell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Sam and Daisy Campbell, a godly couple who devoted their lives to serving the Lord and loving others. There were 6 boys in the family, Les always smiled and said they were boys, not angels. Les was the only redhead and was called “Carrots” by some. He grew up in a little fishing village on the Irish Sea called Annalong. The family attended the Gospel Hall, which was down the street, and had been built by his dad and uncles. It was there, and at home, that Les learned the scriptures from an early age. He said many times that he grew up always knowing that God loved him. His father was “the godliest man Les ever knew” and had the greatest influence on his life and his ministry. As his parents hosted many missionaries in their home, Les and his brothers heard many vibrant testimonies of God’s work in the lives of others all over the world.

As a teenager, when Les stepped away from his faith for a short season, he heard his father’s knees hit the floor as he prayed for him out loud every night.

At 17 years old, Les made a firm commitment to follow Jesus. As he wrestled with God that night, his dad touched his shoulder and said “Isn’t it time you gave your heart to Jesus”….and he and Les’ mom went up together to pray for Les’ decision. Les never looked back from his choice that night, and his first love has always been the Lord since then. One year to the day after his commitment Les led someone to the Lord. God gave him a heart for others and the gift of Evangelism. He began to speak in front of others, first at the Gospel Hall, then at outdoor services, and finally in churches all over Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Les’ career was in selling pantyhose and women’s garments all over Britain. His claim to fame was that he sold the first pantyhose as they were developed in the UK. He was a top salesman and very prosperous. His evenings and weekends were often spent preaching, and God blessed him in his work as well as in his preaching. His church in Ireland ordained him as a pastor.

God spoke to Les and his first wife Evelyn the same night, that they were to leave Ireland, walk away from Les’ prosperous career and come to Canada where Les was to be a full time pastor. In 1970, they sold everything and moved to Ontario with their 3 children and a promise from God. Three months later, Les pastored his first church in Bracebridge, north of Toronto.

He has pastored and preached in many churches in Canada, and first came to Kelowna in the late 1970s. He pastored a small church here, and with another local pastor, hosted a phone-in talk show on the radio called Perspective. Every Sunday night, people could phone in with faith questions, and they were discussed and answered on the air. Les’ current wife Sandy listened to that show every week as she wrestled with faith questions in her life.

Les was a gifted preacher. He was comfortable in his calling from the Lord, and you knew he was real and honest. He was the same warm and friendly person on the platform that he was on the street. He shared scripture in a way that made it easy for people to understand, and as the Spirit spoke through him, people were called to respond. One sermon Les preached was on Psalm 116:12 & 13 “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I shall take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” Les took the ingredients in that cup: forgiveness, redemption, justification and sanctification, and explained what each meant so that every person there would understand. When he asked people to come to the Lord, they understood with great clarity why they should come, and how their lives would be changed when they chose to follow Jesus. People were moved to respond.

In his final years as a preacher, in the early 1990s, Les went into Romania after the revolution and preached in soccer stadiums, like Billy Graham did. Every night, people gave their lives to Jesus. Les was grateful to the Lord that he was given that gift- to reap where others before him had sown.

In 2006, Les was diagnosed with vascular dementia. He lived in Glenmore Lodge, a wonderful care facility in Kelowna, for over 4 years. He was well-loved and cared for there and continued to be warm and gracious to others. The staff used to hear him talking to God as he went to sleep and when he woke up at night, and they enjoyed the hymns he played on the piano for many years.

Through his life and ministry, Les showed many people how to live well.

Well done Les Campbell, good and faithful servant.

Les was predeceased by his first wife Evelyn; grandson Matthew Ian Sawatzky; and 4 of his 5 brothers. He is survived by his wife Sandy; his brother Bob Campbell; his son Ian (AnnaBeth) Campbell, grandchildren: Alicia (Eb), Brendan (Nicole), Colin (Tracy), and Daniel (Caroline), and great-grandchildren: Mikaela, Liam,  Ryan, Isaiah, Evelyn, Quinn, Garrett, Elyse; his daughter Roberta (Rob) Sawatzky, grandchildren: Nathan (Crystal) and Shannon (Jordan) Fieber, and great-grandchildren: Faith, Gracie, Matthew, Samuel, Noah, Lucy, and Abigail; and his daughter Jennifer (Stu) Cutter and grandchildren: Jared (Kathryn) and Nicole.

A Celebration of Life will be held on FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 AT 2:00 PM, at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship, 3714 Gordon Dr, Kelowna, BC, following a private internment with family. The family has requested that masks be worn at the service. Overflow parking is available at the school around the corner. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Service
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 AT 2:00 PM

Location
Kelowna Gospel Fellowship

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Alzheimer's Society Link:  alzheimer.ca

 


Service Information

Service Details


The service for CAMPBELL, Leslie is scheduled for FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 AT 2:00 PM. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

Kelowna Gospel Fellowship

3714 Gordon Dr Kelowna, BC

Phone:


Special Requests:

None.


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Condolences

  • MP Tracy Gray says:

    I am very sorry for your loss and wish your family strength during this difficult time.
    Tracy Gray, Member of Parliament, Kelowna – Lake Country

  • Vivian Ferdinands says:

    Sandra, we am so sorry to hear about Les’ passing. You are in our thoughts.
    Vivian

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