A celebration of life for Elmarie J. Capper, 87 of Keota will be held Monday, July 1, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the West Chester United Methodist Church with Pastor Marlene Janssen officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Joetown, Iowa. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 30 from 3-6 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. In lieu of flowers a general memorial fund has been established. Elmarie Capper died Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at the University of Iowa Hospital following a brief illness.

Elmarie June (Marner) Capper was born June 17, 1926 in rural Johnson County the daughter of I. G. And Mary Ellen (Dickel) Marner. She graudated from Wellman High School. On November 27, 1947 she was united in marriage to John Capper at Elmarie’s parent’s home. She worked as a bookkeeper for several years and was a farmwife and homemaker. Elmarie was a member of the West Chester United Methodist Church where she served as finance secretary for many years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women and served as finance secretary for that organization. Elmarie enjoyed playing cards and played pinochle with a group of friends for many years. She and John were active in the Merry Mixers neighborhood club. She loved farming, gardening, canning, reading, knitting, and baking. Her family fondly remembers her chocolate cake and ground cherry pie.

Survivors include her husband John of Keota, two children; Harold Capper of Keota, Iowa and Donna (Rodney) Bonwell of North Liberty, Iowa, four granchildren; Shawona Buck, Shannon Capper, Zach Capper and Amanda Anderson, seven great grandchildren; Alexis, Mason and Makayla Anderson, Kylie Keeler, Shane Capper, Riley Steele and Addysen Capper, and two sisters; Lola Marner and Anna Mae (Jim Dawson) Marner of Wellman.

Preceding Elmarie in death were her parents, five half sisters and two half brothers.