Leroy Herman Kapels, 64, of Creston, Nebraska, died October 10, 2001 at the St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.  Services will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church (14 miles north) on Monday, October 15, 2001 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Brad Birtell officiating. Interment will be at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Pieper Post 306 Honor Guard. 
Visitation will be held at Gass Haney Funeral Home on Sunday, October 14, 2001, from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM and at St. John's Lutheran Church on Monday, from 9:30 AM until service time. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 AM, Monday at the church.
Leroy, twin son of Adolph and Elvira (Osten) Kapels, was born June 14, 1937 on the family farm, south of Creston, Nebraska. He attended St. John's Lutheran grade school and graduated from Creston High School. He enlisted in the Army on April 24, 1959 and was honorably discharged on March 17, 1961. He received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and spent twelve months in Korea with the 1st. Division 8th Cavalry.
Leroy married Lorna Loseke, a twin daughter of Otto and Anna Studnicka Loseke on September 15, 1963 at Zion Lutheran Church, Leigh, Nebraska. They lived for 5 years south of Creston on the former Oscar Sander farm, which was owned by the Kapels, and then moved to the home place (El Crest Farms) in the fall of 1968.
The home farm place where Leroy was born, known as the El Crest Farms, is the original home place of 240 acres owned by Hinrich and Meta Kapels and then Adolph and Elvira Kapels. The dairy department was operated by Leroy and his twin brother, Elroy. Leroy was thirteen years old when he started his dairying career and retired from the dairy in 1995. Leroy was active in 4-H, a 4-H leader, served on the Diary Herd Improvement Association Board, past Lions Club member, member of the Extension Council of Platte County and the National Farmers Organization. He also served on the Lower Elkhorn Board, a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He also served on the Farmers Coop Board of Creston. He and Lorna served as FHA parents for several years. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church (14 miles north of Columbus).

Leroy is survived by: 
Spouse - Lorna Kapels - Creston, NE 
Daughter - Karla (Paul) Stoffel - San Antonio, TX 
Daughter - Lisa (Jeff) Culpepper - Pittsboro, IN 
Daughter - Gina Kapels - Beatrice, NE 
Twin Brother - Elroy "Dickie" (Donna) Kapels - Creston, NE 
Brother - Melvern "Buddy" (RoseEllen) Kapels - Creston, NE 
Brother - Wilmer (Nancy) Kapels - Creston, NE 
Sister - Bernice (Roland) Rosendahl - Columbus, NE 
Granddaughter - Megan Stoffel - San Antonio, TX 
Granddaughter - Taylor Stoffel - San Antonio, TX

Leroy was preceded in death by: 
Father - Adolph Kapels
Mother - Elvira (Osten) Kapels
Uncle - John Kapels

Service Folder

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures; He leadeth
me beside the still waters. He
restoreth my soul; He leadeth me
in the paths of righteousness for
His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort
me; Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil,
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.


Leroy Kapels

Born 

Monday, June 14, 1937

Rural Platte County, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
 Wednesday, October 10, 2001
 Peoria, Illinois


Service
Monday, October 15, 2001     10:30 A.M.
St. John's Lutheran Church
Rural Platte County, Nebraska

Officiating
Rev. Brad Birtell

Music
Janet Janssen ~ organist
"How Great Thou Art'
"Chief Of Sinners Though I Be"
"Take My Life And Let It Be"
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

Casket Bearers
Gary Loseke                 Loren Loseke
Larry Osten                  Dave Blessen
Jerry Hollatz       Christopher Kapels

Honorary Casket Bearers
John Scheffler                      Joe Stoffel
Harold Larson                   Don Wiemer
Clifford Kapels        Gerald Rosendahl
Mike Nussbaum               Ronald Went

Interment
St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
Rural Platte County, Nebraska