Willa Lee Yoder Kampman, wife of the late Thomas Kampman, died on August 11, 2024, at the age of 90.

The middle of five children of Dr. Wilburn S. and Opal L. Yoder, Willa was born in 1934 in Ballwin, Missouri. She attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, and eventually earned her B.A. at Southern Colorado State College, now Colorado State University – Pueblo. She went on to earn her M.A. in library media at the University of Colorado – Denver., preparing for a career in teaching.

While at Central Methodist, Willa met her future husband, Tom Kampman. They were married in 1955 at Webster Groves Methodist Church where her father Wilburn was pastor. Wilburn officiated the ceremony which resulted in a 67-year marriage that ended with Tom's passing in 2022.

She, Tom, and the family lived in various places including Missouri, Texas, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, and finally Colorado. An educator through and through, Willa taught kindergarten in Cañon City, Colorado from 1971 to 1976, and then kindergarten and first grade from 1977 to 1991 at Martensen Elementary in Arvada, Colorado. After retirement, she continued working part-time at McLain Community High School in Lakewood.

Willa and Tom had three children, four grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. She loved spending time with family and was an avid reader, a talented quilter and seamstress, and a kindly presence in the lives of her many, many friends. She and Tom loved to travel as well, and were able to jet or cruise to Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe, parts of South America, plus much of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. She was also very involved for many years at Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver. She helped care for the sanctuary and the adjacent buildings, cleaning and polishing brass and pews with the TLC group. When her kids were young, she gave generously of her time as a leader for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.

In addition to Tom, Willa was preceded in death by her son David, parents Wilburn and Opal, sisters Carolyn and Jeanne, and brothers Frank and John. She is survived by her daughter Karen (with husband Mark), son Eric (with wife Thea), grandsons Scott, Evan, Lucas, and Oliver, plus a large extended family.

A private family service will be held, at her request. Her ashes will be interred at Golden Cemetery, next to Tom's. Donations in her memory may be sent to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.