“We’ve been married for 32 years,” said Kim Campbell, wife of Glenn Campbell, the Rinestone Cowboy himself. “He is one of the best all-around entertainers that ever lived, and he was the first cross-over artist.”

“Glen is still in there, and he is still Glen. It’s just finding how to connect and being patient.” she said. “That’s the good part about being married so long you don’t even need language to connect.”

Campbell visited Jamestown Community College on Thursday night to introduce her husband’s documentary, “Glenn Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” in a screening put on by JCC and Lutheran as part of the Best of Times Seminar series.

The film follows the iconic singer, guitarist, entertainer and beloved personality through his struggle with the infamous disease, as well as offering the commentary of many well-known faces such as former President Bill Clinton, Blake Shelton, Steve Martin, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.

Scharmann Theatre was packed to the brim with community members who remembered the songs, the shows and the genuine spirit that Glenn Campbell gave the world, including hits like “Wichita Lineman,” “Gentle On My Mind,” “True Grit,” and more. Campbell has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, was honored with the Entertainer of the Year Award by the Country Music Association and has been endeared to the hearts of many across the globe.

“Glenn had just finished recording an album called ‘Ghost on the Canvas,’ and we were getting ready to go out on a five-week tour when we got the diagnosis. It was shocking,” Kim Campbell said, adding that they spoke with doctors regarding the trip soon afterward. “Glen said ‘I feel fine, and I want to do my tour.’ But then we asked ‘What if there was odd behavior on stage?’ and he said, ‘I’ll just tell them I’ve got Alzheimer’s disease.'”

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They went public with his diagnosis, and then began his tour.

“Our first show was standing room only,” she said with a smile. “It was like Rocky with a guitar – it really shows that when you are honest with people and you are real, they want to support you. It was such a blessing.”

Campbell added that the film documents Glen’s Good Bye Tour, including the struggles, the triumphs and the love that the family shared.

“What was going to be five-weeks ended up being a year-and-a-half,” she said, adding that they toured the world during that time period. “It was an amazing journey, and (during the film), you see some struggles but you see more laughs in this show than most comedies.”

She said that the film includes excellent music, education about Alzheimer’s disease, hardship, love and most importantly, joy.

“It’s the ultimate reality show,” Campbell said. “Most reality shows aren’t real, they’re scripted, but this is real. It’s got everything.”

Opening up a door into the Campbells’ private life, the viewers got an indepth look into the struggles and quiet moments of love that come with living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“You have to live moment to moment,” Campbell said. “Use it and make something great with it. You live in the moment, and that’s all you can do.”

Campbell said her husband is physically healthy and strong, and continues trying to entertain everyone.

“He’s cheerful, and he loves ice cream,” she said with a smile. “But, he has aphasia, which is where he has difficulty communicating verbally with us. He can say short sentences, like ‘I love you,’ because those are things you don’t have to think about.”

Campbell warns the public not to wait to be seen by a doctor if personally experiencing signs of Alzheimer’s disease or noticing them in a loved one.

“It’s good to get diagnosed early, I think,” she said. “Maybe you’ll find you’ve got something they can do something about.”

Tom Holt, CEO and president of Lutheran, said he was thankful to have Campbell there to introduce the film.

“She is just a wonderful person,” Holt said. “You spend two minutes with Kim, and you realize that this is something she lives with. She is just so passionate.”

Holt added that the film was an excellent way to show those that live with or care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease that they are not alone.

“We felt this was a good way to educate the community, and the (Best of Times Seminar series) is intended to help people age better,” he said, adding that the event was free of charge to the public. “This is our fourth year of partnership with JCC, and it’s been a nice partnership. This is part of their Center for Continuing Education, so it dovetails nicely.”

Holt added that the screening was possible due to the Wayne G. Nordine Fund , which allows for the continuation of the program.

For those who couldn’t make it to the screening, Campbell said the film will be aired on CNN on June 28. She added that in partnership with the producers, she is starting the I’ll Be Me Fund, in efforts to raise money for young scientists to do research, and also in efforts to lift the spirits of caregivers.

“We’re just getting ready to launch, and we have some pretty exciting ideas,” she said.

For more information on the fund or the film, visit www.ibmaf.org.