Jasper mourns longtime volunteer and craftsman Eddie Kapp

Eddie Joe Kapp, 89, a fixture in Jasper civic and church life, died peacefully at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at Serenity Springs in Jasper. Known for his volunteer work and practical skills, Kapp’s passing removes a steady presence from local charities and parish activities.

Born March 8, 1936, in Jasper to Elmer and Ida (Tredway) Kapp, he graduated from Jasper High School in 1955, where he played basketball and football and ran cross-country. He married Carol J. Bohnert on Sept. 20, 1958, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the same parish where his funeral rites will be held.

Kapp worked for North American Products and Acme Metal during his career, and after retiring he served as a courier for German American Bank for 10 years. Those positions tied him to long-standing local employers and institutions; his steady employment and civic volunteering reflect a mid-century trajectory common among families who built Jasper’s postwar economy.

He and his wife Carol were regular volunteers for Tri-Cap, contributing time at the Community Food Bank and the Backpack Buddies program that supplies weekend food for schoolchildren. Kapp was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Jasper K of C, and a life member of Jasper Outdoor Recreation. His practical talents extended to woodworking, where he could "make just about anything he set his mind to." He often described himself this way: “he was a jack-of-all trades, but a master of none.”

A lifelong outdoorsman, Kapp enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, bus trips, and playing cards. Those pastimes, and his volunteer shifts, made him a familiar face across parish events and community drives, and his absence will be felt at the food bank and local gatherings where neighbors count on long-time volunteers.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Carol Kapp; daughters Debbie (Doug) Kanet of Newburgh and Cindy (John) Hoffman of Birdseye; grandchildren Zach Kanet, Sarah Kanet, and Jim Gregory; brother Terry (Diane) Kapp of Branchville; and nephew Jason Kapp. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son Timothy Kapp, a sister Hilma Kapp, and a nephew Jody Kapp.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. today, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Burial will follow at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or a favorite charity. Online condolences may be left at becherkluesner.com.

Kapp’s legacy is civic: practical skills, steady work, and years of volunteer shifts that helped keep local food programs and parish life running. For neighbors who relied on those programs, his passing is a reminder of the importance of sustaining volunteer networks and the community institutions they support.