Luke Joseph Campbell, age 73, of Newark, DE passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. He was born on January 9, 1952, in Wilmington, DE to the late Roscoe Taylor Campbell and the late Margaret M. (Gosse) Campbell.

Luke was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and passionate horseman. His greatest passion and his first love were to work with horses. Luke learned the harness racing trade while working for the renowned trainer and driver Stanley Dancer, where he honed his skills and developed an intuitive bond with these horses.  His dedication to horses led him to work with thoroughbreds at Fair Hill under the guidance of James McGreevy. Luke had an extraordinary ability to communicate with horses, earning him the affectionate title of “horse whisperer”.  He was known to be great with all animals, showing them compassion and love. He eventually went to work for the State of Delaware as a Toll Sargent.

Outside of his passion for horses, Luke had other interests that brought him joy. He loved collecting decoys crafted by Madison Mitchell, and Jim Pierce and was an avid gun collector with a passion for unique guns. His adventurous spirit shone brightly with his love for deer hunting. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and rabbit hunting with his father. These excursions were treasured moments that allowed him to enjoy the serenity of nature.

His kind spirit and love for animals, as well as his adventurous nature, will forever be etched in our hearts. Luke will be deeply missed by all his friends and co-workers who knew and loved him.

Luke is survived by his loving wife, Wendy Campbell; siblings: Theresa Sordiff, Joan Childress, and Alfred Campbell; cousins: Barbara Huntsman, Catherine Onesi, Frances Saulsbury, Peggy Townley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Luke is preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ray Sordiff, and cousin, Mary Agnes (Campbell) Shee.

A celebration of Luke’s life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 276 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19711 where family and friends may begin visiting at 10:30 AM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “St. Thomas Episcopal Parish” or a charity of your choice, sent in care of R.T. Foard & Jones, Inc., 122 W. Main Street, Newark, DE 19711.