"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me."

Marianne was born on February 25, 1930, in Mainz, Germany to Barbara Finger. After spending several early years in an orphanage, she was reunited with her mother at age 13 and moved to Wiesbaden, Germany.

Marianne had a son, Klaus Gerhardt, from a previous marriage. In 1953, Marianne met the love of her life, Army Sergeant C. W. Campbell, affectionately known as "Peaches". Marianne and C. W. were married in 1957 and moved to the United States, settling in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1958 with her loving mother-in-law, Julia Johnson, who taught Marianne the art of cooking soul food. However, she never wavered from her German culture, cuisine, or traditions. To this union six children were born: Rita, Ralph, Eric, Chris, Elke, and Glen.

While Marianne was firm, she was deeply loving and kind. She was devoted to caring for her grandchildren and even neighborhood children. She kept an immaculate home and made holidays-especially Christmas-truly special for all who gathered there. On January 20, 2026, while in the arms of her loving sons Ralph and Glen, her heart stopped and she transitioned from labor to rest.

Marianne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her mother in-law. She leave to cherish her memories, her beloved children, Klaus (Susane), Rita, Ralph, Eric, Chris, Elke, and Glen (Cassandra); fourteen grandchildren, Marco, Brian, Crystal, Candace, Cheri, LaChristia, Brittany, Chris, Jr (CJ), Chad, Melanie, Monique, Bradley, Rocco, and Cameron, and a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 4pm-8pm at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home in Maplewood. Funeral Services will be held at 9am on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home in Maplewood. Burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.