John Kampfhenkel

It was peacefully early morning on June 9th, 2022, that John R. Kampfhenkel passed away.

John was born on June 8th, 1937, in Robstown, Texas to Adolph and Nellie Kampfhenkel.  He joined the military and the National Guard, dedicated to service, up until he married his wife, Nell in 1965.  Thirty years later the two of them relocated to Bedford, Texas.  John also joined the Koch Refining Company’s Corpus Christi Refineries, becoming Manager of Environmental Engineering, and after thirty years of service with Koch and seeing the group grow from a department of one (himself) to much larger, he eventually retired in 1996.

John had a great passion for wood craft, spending time building works of art with hammer and saw, and he even turned it into a business.  His creations decorated people’s yards and homes, and they were always a welcome and heartfelt addition, care in every notch and etch.  He also had a great love of Johnny Cash, listening to his music avidly.  He was known for his great humor and near constant joking, pulling the occasional prank, and being able to make anybody smile.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Nellie, and his wife, Nell Kampfhenkel.  He leaves behind to celebrate his life his brother Tim Brown; his sons, David Jarrett of Waco and R. Kirk Kampfhenkel of Dallas-Fort Worth; grandchildren, Courtney Gaines, Brooke Stone, Kai Kampfhenkel, and Christian Kampfhenkel, all of Dallas-Fort Worth, and Ravyn Kampfhenkel of Hamlin; great-granddaughters, Taylor Stone of Houston, and Olivia Gaines of Waco and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

John, liked and loved by many, will be missed by friends and family in Robstown, Bedford and all over Texas.  He was a husband and a father, an active member of the community no matter where he lived, a veteran, and a proud supporter of his family in everything they wanted to do.