Francis Joseph “Joe” Campana, 52, of St. Augustine, Fla., departed this world on Dec. 15 in St. Augustine Beach from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Joe was born in Washington, D.C., to Jane Carol Martin and Jose Francisco Campana. He grew up in Tamarac, Fla., along with siblings: Laura, Michael and Christopher. An avid soccer player, he attended Coral Springs High School where he was the goalkeeper for the soccer team. He then attended Flagler College in St. Augustine where he received a scholarship to play soccer. Joe was such a phenomenal goalie that he moved to Ecuador to live with family and train with the Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito soccer team.
Joe had a tremendous love for the beach and started a beach supply rental company on St. Augustine Beach after college graduation. That business eventually evolved into a very successful career and business in the parasailing and water sports industry on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., which he ran for 21 years. In recent years, He and his family moved back to the States, settling in the town where he and his wife, Kim, had met years prior. More recently, Joe had been involved in managing a ropes course in Alabama and took his family with him on vacation there while he worked.
A devoted husband and father, he spent his free time with his family and friends, and was very involved in his children’s extracurricular activities. He would want everyone to live life with as much passion as he did, always remembering to count their blessings every day and live in the moment, as he did. We will miss that smile that lit up the world!
Joe is survived by his wife, Kimberly (Kim) King Campana, of St. Augustine; children: Hunter Josiah Lineberry (21), Christopher Mauricio Campana (14), and Carolena Nicolette Campana (12); father, Jose Francisco Campana (77) of Boynton Beach, Fla.; siblings: Laura Maria Campana (Douglas Lee Davis Jr.) of Alva, Fla. and Michael Emilio Campana (Rebecca Ann Dazey) of Langhorne, Pa.; niece, Jamie Lynn Campana Pryor (30; Andrew Thomas Pryor) of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; nephew, Turner Christopher Davis (14) of Alva, Fla.; nieces, Cassidy Jane Campana (20), Madison Alexandra Campana (18) and Delaney Christina Campana (15) of Langhorne, Pa.; niece, Taylor Kristen Campana (20) of Charleston, W.Va.; grandniece Daylin Olivia Pryor (6) and grandnephew Carson Thomas Pryor (2) of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; grandnephew Jaxson Mauricio Moats (1) of Charleston, W.Va.; and too many dear friends to mention. Joe is predeceased by his mother, Jane Carol Campana (1992) and his brother, Christopher Mauricio Campana (1997).
Services were held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 20, at St. Anastasia Catholic Church on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 5205 A1A South St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Joe’s favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to a trust fund set up for his children, Christopher and Carolena Campana, at Wells Fargo Bank: Memorial for Francis Joe Campana, 4285 US 1 Hwy. South, St. Augustine, FL 32086 c/o Brooks Davis. Meals can be arranged for Kimberly and the kids through takethemameal.com password: Joe
Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park is in charge of the arrangements. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/staugustine/obituary.aspx?n=francis-joseph-campana-joe&pid=173503449#sthash.mQkxUnaJ.dpuf