Robert "Bob" Lewis Cappel
YANKTON, South Dakota --Robert "Bob" Lewis Cappel, 70, of Yankton died Tuesday (Sept. 8, 2015) in hospice care at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with the Rev. Ron Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook, Nebraska, at a later date.
A gathering of friends and family will be from 5 - 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at First United Methodist Church with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service on Tuesday at the church.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bob's nieces and nephews: Erik Karre, Leah Van Amberg, Abby Olson, Rich Cappel, Sean Cappel, Sara Langan, April Kendall, Tyler Cappel, Amanda Cappel, and Olivia Cappel.
Robert Lewis Cappel was born June 26, 1945, in Denver, Colo. Bob was the son of Robert and Julia Cappel of McCook. Growing up in McCook, he excelled in high school and college baseball and developed a deep admiration and lifelong love of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Go Big Red!
He graduated from McCook High School in 1964 and Peru State College in 1969. Bob began a lengthy career with the YMCA working in Lincoln, Nebraska, and St. Lewis, Missouri.
After making his home in Texas, he became the assistant executive director of the Longview YMCA and later the executive director of the YMCA in both Orange and Big Spring, Texas. In 1992, Bob was appointed the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in Lexington, Nebraska.
He later moved to Yankton, South Dakota, where he served as executive director of the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce until his retirement in 2010.
He married Carolyn (Chafee) Pawlitschek on May 22, 1999, in Yankton, South Dakota.
Bob followed his heart's calling and entered the ministry becoming the Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Only God knows the number of lives that were touched and changed because Bob emulated the love of Jesus Christ. Bob's firm handshakes and hugs were a reaffirmation of his love. Bob knew no strangers. He deeply loved and cared for all humanity. Bob received many awards and numerous special recognitions during his lifetime, but he was most proud of his children and grandchildren.
Mr. Cappel was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Julia Cappel. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Cappel of Yankton; daughters Angela Cappel and Carrie Cappel of Fort Worth, TX, and Meredith Cappel of New York, NY; son and daughter-in-law Aaron and Stephanie Cappel of Wylie, TX; stepchildren Nathan and Stacy Dahms of Melbourne, FL, and Katelyn "Kels" Pawlitschek of Winnebago, MN; sisters LaDonna (Tom) Karre and Christine (Dirk) Cappel; brothers Rich (Debi) Cappel and Charles (Jan) Cappel; grandchildren Brooke, Kellan, and Camden Cappel and Brandon Stevermer as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 207 W. 11th Street Yankton, SD 57078, to further Bob's favorite ministries and missions.
To post an online sympathy message visit: wintzrayfuneralhome.com