Funeral services for Neal R. Kappus of El Reno were held Friday, May 25, 2018 in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Re. Mark Mason officiating. Burial with military honors followed in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home
Mr. Kappus dies May 21, 2018 at Norman Regional HealthPlex. He was born Jan. 4, 1942 in El Reno, the son of Raymond Henry and Berniece Marion (Fees) Kappus, and was a lifelong resident. While in school he helped on the farm of his sister and brother-in-law, LaVerne and Bill Manning, and after graduating from Sacred Heart High School, he joined the Air Force with a classmate, Jerry Murphy. His intention was to return to El Reno after completing his tour of duty and go north with Bill on wheat harvest.
However, in 1966 while stationed in Hawaii, he became paralyzed after an accident. He spent a year in a hospital in Denver, Colorado, returning to live with his parents. Because their home wasn't suited to his needs, Neal built a home and his parents moved in with him.
On May 11, 1973 Neal married Lillie Calvert Beatty and adopted her children, Sandra Leigh and Darrell Eugene.
He was a supporter of El Reno Indians naseball and enjoyed attending their games as well as football and girls softball games. He was a member of sacred heart Church, Wheatstraw Ham Club and was a life member of both the Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Henry and Bernice Marion (Fees) Kappus and a sister, Louise LaFollette.
Neal is survived by his wife, Lillie of the home; son, Darrell, also of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Donnie Whitley of El Reno; sisters and brothers-in-law, LaVerne and Bill Manning and Rita and Richard Koehler, all of El Reno; five grandchildren, Natasha Gatz, Dakota Kappus, Joseph and Aaron Kimberlin and Kayln Kappus; and a great-granddaughter, Talia Leigh Gatz.
Stan - N5JFQ said "Joe & Cathy and Liz & I went out to Neal’s funeral.
It was nice especially with the Air Force Honor Guard doing their routines."
Stan - N5JFQ sent in the following photos...
Stan says "Neal pic, HamCom 2010.
Apparently that was his big purchase."
Stan says "Neal pic 2, HamCom 2011.
And, yes, he had an official IOOK shirt."
Stan says "Neal pic 3, HamCom 2013."
Stan says "Neal Pic. HamCom 2014."
Stan says "Neal pic. Texhoma
hamfest October 2016"
Stan says "Neal pic. Neal at Ham
Holiday, Oklahoma City, 2017. At left is his driver Keith. (I forgot
his last name but Joe has it)."
Many thanks to Stan for sharing the above photos.
My sincere apologies for my tardiness in notifying the IOOK of Neal's passing.
RIP Neal! We shall miss you!
73, Keith - WA8ZWJ
