Kari McIntire Campbell

A life well lived

Kari Kay McIntire was born September 12, 1962 to Thomas and Thelma (Melby) McIntire in St. Paul, MN. She passed on September 3, 2023 in Lake Elmo with family surrounding her.

The McIntire family moved to Lake Park, MN where she attended school and graduated as valedictorian. Kari went to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude from UND. She ran cross country and track there, twice qualifying for DII National competitions. She attended Mayo Medical School where her passion for helping kids led her to become a pediatrician.

In 1989 she married Frank Campbell. They raised their four children in Lake Elmo, MN. They shared many running and triathlon races. Kari was a great athlete and nearly qualified for the Olympic trials in the marathon. She loved her family and worked to have as many family adventures as possible.

Kari’s top priority in life was her relationship with Jesus and she maintained that relationship daily. She enjoyed serving on mission trips starting in her college years, with more recent physician work at a jungle mission hospital in Togo, Africa. Kari enjoyed traveling to many places including Africa, France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, Australia and most recently New Zealand. She was always up for a trip to a new destination. Kari enjoyed gourmet cooking, especially working with spices to discover and assemble her favorite flavors. Her family and friends enjoyed this as much as she did. She loved to spend time in her flower gardens in Lake Elmo. Kari was very artistically talented. She made beautiful tile mosaics, painted wine glasses, and made jewelry. Kari was an amazing pianist and could sight read most music with ease. She played for churches and family gatherings and loved playing music with her kids.

Kari was the first pediatrician with Hudson Physicians and served the Hudson community for 25 years. The last five years of her career were spent as a hospitalist at Tucson Medical Center. Kari was a respected physician and loved working with children. Her personality made it easy for kids to enjoy their visits.

She is survived by her husband Frank Campbell, Tucson AZ; her children Morgan (Andy) Newman, Isanti, MN; Drew (Erin) Campbell, El Paso, TX; Elliot (Amelia) Campbell, Lake Elmo, MN; Tatum (Sam) Costa, Tucson, AZ; grandchildren Thomas and Cecelia Campbell, El Paso, TX; mother, Thelma McIntire, Fargo, ND; siblings Mike McIntire, Lake Park, MN; Dan (Kathi) McIntire, Fargo, ND; Phil (Brooke) McIntire, Hudson, WI; Lori (Kelly) Shipman, Fargo, ND; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children.

She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas McIntire, and her mother-in-law, Delores Campbell.

memorial service

Celebration of Life 11:00 with Visitation at 10:00

September 15, 2023

Eagle Brook Church in White Bear Lake, MN 2401 Buffalo St, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

Services to celebrate Kari will be held at Eagle Brook Church 2401 Buffalo Street in White Bear Lake, MN with visitation beginning at 10:00 am and service at 11:00 am. There will be a luncheon at Manitou Grill, 2171 4th Street in White Bear Lake following the service.

Kari had a heart for the kids of Cambodia. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to support them. Frank will be managing funds to support Cambodian kids in the same manner as Kari has done for years. You can send funds directly to Frank Campbell, 8420 Demontreville Trail, Lake Elmo MN 55042. Or, we would be happy for you to donate to another group that supports the kids of Cambodia.