Adelle Elizabeth (Catlin) Capps (1916-2014)
CAPPS, CATLIN, LOFSTEDT, AMBROSE, FITZPATRICK, HILDAHL, MOHR, CAPLE, OSTRICH, CARLSON, MCCLURG, GOLLY
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/20/2014 at 12:07:24
From Bacon Funeral Home & Crematory obituary, Nevada and Maxwell, Story County, Iowa:
Adelle Elizabeth Catlin Capps, 97, of Nevada entered eternal life July 13, 2014 at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.
Adelle was born July 24, 1916 in Oelwein, Iowa to William Ray and Effie (Lofstedt) Catlin. She had an older brother, John William, and a younger sister, Miriam May. Adelle graduated from Oelwein High School in 1933 and attended Upper Iowa University for one year before moving to Des Moines to live with her beloved aunt, Annette Golly, in 1934. While in Des Moines, she continued her studies in business courses at Capital City Commercial College and worked for five years in downtown Des Moines at the Equitable Life Insurance Company, where she was a secretary. It was also during that time that Adelle met a very special young man, William Lewis Capps, at Central Christian Church in Des Moines. William (Bill) and Adelle were married on November 4, 1939. Their son, William Harry, was born November 23, 1940 and their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born September 27, 1949. Bill and Adelle raised their children and made their lifelong home in Des Moines.
Adelle lived in Des Moines for over 60 years and was very active in her congregations at Central Christian Church and First Christian Church. She was a leader of church circle meetings, where she often prepared programs and held gatherings in her home. She was also a member of the Des Moines Women’s Club and took part in numerous fundraisers and other special events, including fashion shows and craft fairs. Adelle had wonderful artistic talent and even incorporated her Swedish heritage into the special things she created right at her dining room table. She also loved to read, was a wonderful cook, and enjoyed spending time at the Downtown Younkers (especially in the Tea Room – which was spared by the recent fire). Above all, she had a special gift for bringing her friends and loved ones together for meals, and she cherished time with her family.
Following her husband Bill’s passing in 1986, Adelle lived in Des Moines for several additional years. While Adelle had many wonderful longtime connections and fond memories in Des Moines, she frequently referred to her years in Nevada as the best years of her life. She moved to the Regency Retirement Residence in Nevada to be closer to her family and remained there until shortly before she passed away. She loved Bible study and her daily coffee hour with the other residents of the Regency. One other resident, in particular, turned out to be more than just a dear friend. Adelle married Milton Mohr of Maxwell, IA (more specifically of Regency Unit #114) on December 8, 2003. On the day of their wedding, Adelle was 87 years old and Milt was 91. Their marriage was indeed unique and special, as others often referred to their later-life union as simply “adorable.” Some of their favorite times together were spent at the congregate meals at the Maxwell Area Community Center and Central Presbyterian Church (Nevada), or taking a beautiful scenic drive to Maxwell, where they attended the Maxwell United Methodist Church.
After Milton’s passing in 2010, Adelle became an “official” member of First United Methodist Church in Nevada, where she also loved to attend worship and hear her son-in-law, Mark Ambrose, play the organ. Adelle had a quiet strength and was a true woman of faith – deeply spiritual, moved by many favorite hymns and Bible verses, and exuded love and grace in everything she said and did. She fully embodied the woman of wisdom described in Proverbs 3:17: “Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.” She forever looked for the good in others, never judged, and was always kind. Her examples of love and faithfulness live on in all those whose lives she touched, as she will always be remembered as one of the sweetest, most genuine and gracious people any of us have ever known. In a treasured gift to her family, she quoted I Corinthians as the best way to live your life: “Let everything you do be done in love.” Adelle most certainly lived her own life in that way and will forever be in our hearts. Adelle’s family would like to acknowledge, with deep appreciation, Dr. Perry Rathe and the nurses and staff of Israel Family Hospice House for all of their wonderful, caring support during this time of transition.
Adelle is survived by her daughter, Mary (Mark) Ambrose of Nevada; son William (Karen) Capps of St. Charles, MO; granddaughters Emily (Brian) Fitzpatrick of Solon, IA and Beth (Todd) Hildahl of Columbia, MO; one great-granddaughter Kaleigh Hildahl; and Milton’s five children Elaine Mohr, Barbara Caple, Eleanor “Toots” Ostrich, Marlene Carlson, and Eugene “Sonny” Mohr and their families. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings John W. Catlin and Miriam M. (Catlin) McClurg, husband William L. Capps, aunt Annette M. Golly, husband Milton W. Mohr.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church in Nevada with Deacon Brenda Hobson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow the services at 1:30 p.m. at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.
A Memorial Fund has been established in Adelle’s name at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, IA.
Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements.
http://baconfuneralhomes.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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