JoAnn was born in Rexburg, Idaho to John "Joe" Nestor and Grace Wilks and she died in Seattle, Washington at the UW Hospital. She spent her youth on farms in Idaho and her High School years in Renton. She attended Central Washington University where she met Bob Campbell and they married in 1958.

They lived in the Midwest and on the east coast before returning to Washington to raise their children.

She worked as an Executive Secretary in a hospital and in several positions in elementary schools before returning to her education and getting a Ph.D in Anthropology at the University of Washington.

JoAnn enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and climbing; she even summited Mount Rainier! She was an accomplished skier and also enjoyed gardening and reading. Later she did a lot of genealogy learning much about the history of her family.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother, Jerry Nestor and husband, Bob. She is survived by her two daughters and her grandchildren.