Gary Christian Kapp

Gary Christian Kapp

Gary Christian Kapp, our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather, was called home to our Heavenly Father, on 15 July 2023.  Gary was born March 11,1937 to Christian and Josephine Vander Heide Kapp in Ogden, Utah.

Gary is survived by his wife, Judy Hansen Kapp, his sister Joan Lewis, his daughters: Kelly Grover (Greg) Kristi Holley (Chad), Kendra Hansen Nilsen (Joe), Lisa Kopecky (Todd) Kim Lasater Shepherd (Brad); grandchildren, Jon Holley (Racheal), Jared Holley (Carmen), Rick Boman, Alisha Payton (Brian), Brandon Payton, Elizabeth Shepherd, Benjamin Shepherd, Braiden Singleton Nilsen, Bailee Lutz, Blake Prout, Berklee Nilsen, Byron Nilsen; several nieces, nephews and eleven great-grandchildren that he adored. 

Gary always saw the best in everyone, he never held a grudge, and loved unconditionally.  He excelled in football, basketball and baseball at Ben Lomond High School and received awards for his athletic ability.  He also served as Student Body President.  He received a football scholarship to Utah State, where he became an all-America football player, graduating with a bachelor of Science in Education.  He was part of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the Air Force ROTC.  After college, he taught school and coached for Ogden City Schools.  He worked as a switchman for the Union Pacific Railroad, and as a manpower management analyst for Hill Air Force Base and retired from Hill with 24 years of dedicated service, where he won many prestigious awards.  He was an avid golfer who loved the game, and played for many years with his wife Judy and countless friends.  He also served on the Ski Patrol at Snow Basin Ski Resort, and took his daughters with him every weekend to ski.  He was also a ski instructor and enjoyed countless years with his ski adventures.  He loved skiing almost as much as golf.  He was part owner of Nordic Valley for a while and built a beautiful A-frame home there and was heavily involved with the community.  He also enjoyed river rafting, camping, fishing and playing the guitar and singing.  He would play his guitar for us at our family events.

Gary was a very kind, loving husband and father who would do anything for his family.  He truly enjoyed all of the wonderful friends he met, and stayed in touch with so many of them.  He loved meeting with his crew at the Newgate mall to shoot the bull.  He enjoyed life to the fullest and never ceased to have a good time, and make sure others did as well.  He was hard working and honest and an amazing man who will be sorely missed by so many!  He never missed attending his grandkids games and graduations, and also attended them for his great grandchildren.  He was always there to support us!  He enjoyed cook-outs with the kids and made the best potato salad in the world, and could cook a steak you’d never forget.  He and his sister Joan, had a very close relationship, and he loved his nieces very much.  His dog Lola was his guard dog and protector along with his sweet dog Elliot.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Ray Lewis and his daughter Dannie Wiggins.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at noon at Aaron's Mortuary, 496 24th Street, Ogden, Utah.  Viewing will be held Tuesday evening, July 25, 2023 from 6 to 8 pm and on Wednesday from 11 to 11:45 am prior to service.  Interment, Ogden, City Cemetery.

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