Obituary: Bob Campos (1938-2024)
February 5, 1938-July 10, 2024
Robert Campos was born on February 5, 1938, in Omaha, NE. He was the fourth child of Zenaido and Trini Campos. Bob spent his entire childhood in South Omaha, attending Assumption Catholic School, and South High School.
His younger days were spent creating jobs for himself. At the age of 8 he started opening doors for people at Phillips Department store, gaining the trust of the grocer who quickly noticed his eagerness to work hard and gave him more and more responsibilities. He had many paper routes and even was a caddie at Field Club Golf Course
Bob was an accomplished athlete in his younger days. One of his proudest moments was playing in the 1950 Santa Claus Bowl in Florida. He played basketball and baseball, traveling the Midwest to play other Hispanic teams.
On July 5, 1954, Bob joined the United States Coast Guard. He traveled the U.S., with his last assignment being Portland, Maine.
Bob met Barbara Ann Flaherty at a dance, leading to one of the greatest love stories of all time. He even serenaded her once outside her window with a ukulele. They were married on March 8,1958 in Portland and moved back to Omaha where Bob worked several carpenter jobs, perfecting his skill. Bob and Barb had 3 children, Jerry, Bobby and Theresa. Bob and Barb were married for 57 years before her passing in November 2015.
On January 1, 1977, with $500 and a dream, Bob started Campos Construction, quickly becoming ” El Jefe” (the boss). Campos Construction would become a multi-million nationally recognized Minority owned construction company. Jobs included restoration of the Herbert Hoover, Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Truman homes, Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, skyboxes at Memorial Stadium, several National Parks Service, Veterans Administration, and US Government jobs. Buildings and businesses all over Omaha were completed by Campos Construction.
Bob’s passion for mentoring and guiding children was shown throughout his years of coaching youth sports, involvement in the schools, and fundraising. Thousands of children now play on the Bob Campos Soccer Complex. He was involved in the Grassroots Leadership program for over 25 years and on the Board of the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute. He was sought out for his advice and mentored people of all ages. Some of his greatest achievements were seeing these people succeed.
Bob held multiple Board of Directors positions throughout the city, many civic and professional memberships, and was the recipient of multitude prestigious awards and honors for his community and charitable work. His latest was being the first inductee into the Nebraska Hispanic Hall of Fame, recognized and documented in the Congressional Library.
Bob worked hard to make his world a better place, always encouraging acts of kindness towards others and helping where he was able. His legacy is left in the buildings throughout Omaha, and the hearts of the South Omaha community.
He always said he was going to live to be 100, and although he didn’t, he will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched well beyond 100 years.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, brother Richard, sister Rosemary, parents Zenaido Campos and Trini Mendoza. He is survived by sons Jerry (Debbie) and Bobby (Dolese), daughter Theresa, 10 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: Sunday July 14, 2024, from 5:00-7:00PM at Assumption Catholic Church, 5838 S. 22nd St. Omaha with a VIGIL SERVICE at 7:00PM.
Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, July 15, 2024, at 10:00AM at Assumption Catholic Church.
INTERMENT: St. John Cemetery, Bellevue, NE.
Memorials are suggested to: The Robert Campos Memorial Fund
To view a live broadcast of the service please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
IN MEMORY:
Mundo Latino had the privilege to interview Bob Campos back in 2021. Here is the interview
