Hugh "Cam" Wilkins

Hugh Campbell “Cam” Wilkins was born June 9, 1948, in New York City, the oldest child of Hugh F. Wilkins and Barbara (Noyes) Wilkins. He died on December 6, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Pam at his side, after a courageous battle with melanoma. Cam married Mary Pamela Primmer on September 7, 1968, in Yankton, South Dakota. Nathaniel W. Wilkins was born to this union on March 1, 1983.

Cam graduated from Geneva High School in 1965 and attended undergraduate school at the University of Chicago. Cam and Pam spent their first married years in Chicago, then went on a University of Chicago sponsored tour for alumni: they arrived in Paris and were picked up in London three months later. They loved seeing all the museums, historical sites, and people of France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Scandinavia, and London, back packing and living in a tent the entire time - on less than $5 per day. Serendipitously, they met up with his maternal grandmother Noyes - while in Oslo, Norway. Returning to the States, they lived in Indianapolis, Indiana where Cam was a city planner. They spent many pleasant hours hiking/camping in Southern Indiana, where they went to their first “Bluegrass Festival” in Bean Blossom, starting a lifelong passion for this lively music. They took sailing lessons while living there, and that was the beginning of another passion.

A move to Boston followed where Cam studied at Harvard and received his Master's Degree. He and Pam served as ‘tour guides’ to many visiting family and friends. They were very active in 1st Church in Cambridge, singing in the choir and serving on committees. They returned to Geneva where Cam installed first computer system in the family bank’s (Geneva State Bank). He had worked with computers at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Boston University. Pam has fond memories of him carrying around stacks of ‘punch cards’ for the big mainframes, which are now replaced by tiny silicon chips. He built a home computer using those. Cam remained with the bank until his death, having served in many capacities, including President and Chief Executive Officer. He, Pam, and Nate (as a young child) went to many banking seminars and conferences around the country.

A member of the First Congregational Church of Geneva, Nebraska, he sang in the choir, served on the Trustee and Building and Grounds Committees. He and Pam taught the confirmation class one year. Cam was a Rotarian, Mason, member of the Nebraska Bankers Association, served on the Nebraska Independent College Foundation, was very active with the Fillmore County Development Corporation, Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Revitalize Geneva. Cam was an Eagle Scout, and participated in an adventurous camping trip up to International Falls and beyond with the Troop while his son, Nate, was in scouting.

A remembrance of Cam would not be complete without mentioning his love for trains. He and Pam always had to stop at any old historic train station wherever their travels took them. As they did when jamming, his eyes lit up with delight. The Golden Spire, the world’s largest ‘switching station in North Platte, Nebraska enthralled him! He was working on an N-scale model train set up in the basement. He and Pam travelled to San Diego for an annual National Model Rail Road convention in Balboa Park, a favorite spot.

Cam, Pam and Nate (whom he adored) enjoyed taking the Amtrak to Winter Park, Colorado to ski, and also skied at Breckenridge, Vail, and Beaver Creek. Cam & Nate liked to try the black runs. Cam was very adventurous, and liked to live on the edge in his skiing, sailing, and hiking… always seeking out the toughest trails, climbing out to the farthest overhang, and heeling out to the max on their daysailor to catch the wind and sail really fast. They spent many pleasant hours at Branched Oak, and up at Lewis and Clark Lake where Pam’s parents lived in Yankton, SD enjoying family picnics and Fourth of July displays over the mighty river there.

Cam taught himself to play the mandolin and also practiced banjo and fiddle. He sat in his office at home with the mandolin around his neck picking and strumming for hours, with his favorite little cat, Tree, snuggled up on his chest purring loudly, somewhat in the way of his playing. He and Pam loved traveling to many Blue Grass festivals~ favorites include the Winfield Festival in Kansas and the Walnut Valley festival in Iowa, where they ‘jammed’ around campfires, and enjoyed listening to a variety of incredible performers, including Celtic musicians. Cam loved Celtic music. His face was a picture of pure bliss at these festivals. He has a HUGE collection of CDs with this music. He also had come to appreciate the magnificence of Opera, and had planned a trip to NYC to take Pam to the Met!

Another passion was reading. There Cam also had very eclectic tastes, ranging from economics, technology, scientific journals and books, religion, science fiction and fantasy. He and Pam spent many hours in bookstores all over the country, and reading in their living room. Cam and Nate were “Trekkies”.

Left to cherish Cam's memory are his wife, Mary Pamela, son, Nathaniel, parents, Hugh and Barbara, sisters, Susan of San Francisco; Betsy of Geneva; and Kathy (George Pond) Wilkins of New Orleans, Louisiana, Uncles Robert (Gladys) Wilkins of Laguna Nigel, California; William (Nancy) Wilkins of Sun City, Arizona, and Aunt, Beth M. Wilkins, of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming; nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Cam will be remembered for his patience, fun-loving spirit, wide range of interests, compassion, strong work ethic, determination and dedication "

Memorial services were held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Geneva. Memorials are directed to the Fillmore County Foundation, or the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Geneva, Neb. both c/o Geneva State Bank. Condolences or personal reflections may be sent to the family, c/o Geneva State Bank, PO Box 313, 896 G Street, Geneva NE 68361.