Mary Grace (Berlin Nelson) Campbell

Mary Grace

(Berlin Nelson) Campbell

Cedar Rapids

Mary Grace (Berlin Nelson) Campbell, 82, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in palliative care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Prairie Oak Lodge in Wanatee Park in Marion, Iowa. Starting at 3 p.m., guests are invited to share their favorite stories about Mary and enjoy some of Mary’s favorite foods. Private family burial will follow at a later date.

Mary was born on October 12, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Max and Elizabeth (Murphey) Berlin. She was a lifelong member of the Cedar Rapids and Marion area. Mary’s parents ran the Berlin grocery store in Marion. She was a drum major in high school and was in honor society. She was a graduate of Marion High School. She met Lary Anton Nelson in high school and later married, and from this union, three children were born. She played trombone in the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra and was an active and accomplished pianist, often entertaining her fellow residents at Stoney Point Meadows. Mary worked as an office manager at Dr. Gary Hayes' office until 1991. On March 7, 1992, Mary was united in marriage to Wayne Franklin Campbell in Cedar Rapids. She was a member of First Lutheran Church. Mary loved being athletic; she played soccer, was a lifelong runner, and was part of a women's golf league. She was a skilled seamstress and quilter. Mary will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Mary is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughters, Shari (Todd) Lewison, and their children, Peter Lewison (Kelly Luedke), Daniel Lewison, and their grandchildren, Andrew and Elizabeth Luedke; Lisa (Doug) Johnson, and their children, Allison (Daniel) Grainger, Bradley (Lindsey) Johnson, and Lauren Johnson, and their grandchildren, Sylvie and Beau Grainger, and Oliver and Eli Johnson; and Kristin (Tom) Angellotti, and their children, Cara Corell, and McKenna Angellotti, and their granddaughter, Mya Corell; siblings, Sally (Alta Bardsley) Schmid, and Sharon (Jerry) “Chic” Bullis; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Lary Nelson (deceased 1989); and second husband, Wayne Campbell (deceased 2005).

Memorials in Mary’s memory may be directed to Cedar Rapids Municipal Band or the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Please share a memory of Mary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.