July 10, 2021
July 10, 2021
John Peter “Jack” Kapes, of Hazle Township PA passed away peacefully in San Diego on July 7, 2021 with his son and daughter by his side. John had recently moved to California to live with his daughter prior to his passing. John was born in 1929 in Harwood Mines, PA where he resided for most of his life.
Jack was known for his incredible work ethic, toughness and his ingenuity. He had a fearless approach to life and endless supply of optimism. He was a devote Catholic and member of Holy Name of Jesus parish, West Hazleton, PA. He loved hunting and being outdoors.
He was a veteran, having served in the Army in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany from 1951 to 1953. He worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for most of his career.
John married his wife of 58 years, the former Verna Powell, in 1962, whom he met when he and her brother Robert served in the same platoon in Frankfurt-am-Main. A true love story, the couple wrote to each other before John returned home from Germany. A dedicated husband throughout their marriage, John further distinguished himself as a dedicated care-taker to Verna for the more than twenty years she lived with Parkinson’s disease. During that time he learned a variety of home nursing skills that enabled him to care for her in their home until her death in 2019.
John is survived by his two children, Markos Kapes, Philadelphia, and Roseann Iovine, San Diego, as well as his son-in-law Peter Iovine, his grandson Lucas Iovine, his sisters Irene Kapes and Cecelia Anderson and several nephews and nieces and a brother-in-law, Lawrence Powell. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, John, his parents John and Anna, and his siblings Rita Droniak of Bridgeport, CT, Joseph Kapes, Haddock PA, and Francis “Sonny” Kapes of Harwood.
Funeral services will be private and John will be laid to rest next to his beloved Verna in Calvary Cemetery, Drums PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Josephs Center in Scranton, PA. St. Josephs Center was an important charity as John and Verna adopted their two children here. History of St. Josephs -
https://stjosephscenter.org/about/history/
https://stjosephscenter.org/donations/memorial-donation/
Cards can be mailed to the family at 2902 West Evans Road, San Diego CA 92106.
The family wishes to extend thanks to the staff at Lehigh Valley Health Network (Hazleton, PA) and Scripps Green Hospital (La Jolla, CA) for their kindness and care.
Jack was known for his incredible work ethic, toughness and his ingenuity. He had a fearless approach to life and endless supply of optimism. He was a devote Catholic and member of Holy Name of Jesus parish, West Hazleton, PA. He loved hunting and being outdoors.
He was a veteran, having served in the Army in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany from 1951 to 1953. He worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for most of his career.
John married his wife of 58 years, the former Verna Powell, in 1962, whom he met when he and her brother Robert served in the same platoon in Frankfurt-am-Main. A true love story, the couple wrote to each other before John returned home from Germany. A dedicated husband throughout their marriage, John further distinguished himself as a dedicated care-taker to Verna for the more than twenty years she lived with Parkinson’s disease. During that time he learned a variety of home nursing skills that enabled him to care for her in their home until her death in 2019.
John is survived by his two children, Markos Kapes, Philadelphia, and Roseann Iovine, San Diego, as well as his son-in-law Peter Iovine, his grandson Lucas Iovine, his sisters Irene Kapes and Cecelia Anderson and several nephews and nieces and a brother-in-law, Lawrence Powell. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, John, his parents John and Anna, and his siblings Rita Droniak of Bridgeport, CT, Joseph Kapes, Haddock PA, and Francis “Sonny” Kapes of Harwood.
Funeral services will be private and John will be laid to rest next to his beloved Verna in Calvary Cemetery, Drums PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Josephs Center in Scranton, PA. St. Josephs Center was an important charity as John and Verna adopted their two children here. History of St. Josephs -
https://stjosephscenter.org/about/history/
https://stjosephscenter.org/donations/memorial-donation/
Cards can be mailed to the family at 2902 West Evans Road, San Diego CA 92106.
The family wishes to extend thanks to the staff at Lehigh Valley Health Network (Hazleton, PA) and Scripps Green Hospital (La Jolla, CA) for their kindness and care.