April 23, 2015

Norbert Michael Izzador Kapes, 74, passed on to his second journey in life on Thursday evening at his residence with his wife and son at his side.

When he went to be with his Lord who saw he was getting weary and knew there was no cure to be, so he put his arms around him and said come and rest with me, be free of pain and agony.

He opened up his golden gates oh that heart-breaking day and with his arms around you, you gently slipped away.

It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone, a part of us went with you the day God called you home.

Norbert was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish at Transfiguration Church and a former member of Ss. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church.

Norbert was the firstborn son of Albert and Jennie (Lincalis) Kapes and lived in West Hazleton all his life.

At the age of 12 he worked for Price's Dairy, tending to the horses and delivering milk house-to-house on the wagon before school. He went on to work at Leitchman's Ice Cream in the cool room making ice cream.

He attended West Hazleton Elementary and Junior/Senior High schools, where he played trumpet in the school band and was manager of the boys basketball teams throughout his high school years.

After graduation, he went to work for Smith Florist as a grower-arranger and maintenance man at the greenhouses in West Hazleton. He was also a part-time courier for the Purolator Courier Co. for 17 years, with a perfect driving record until taking ill in 1998, being diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer.

Norbert was especially proud of his tomatoes that he grew in his yard and the vegetable garden which was his specialty. He was a loyal Penn State football and basketball fan and never missed a televised game. Fishing and the outdoors was his passion and he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed his football and cheered for his teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos. His favorite baseball team was the New York Yankees. A loyal NASCAR fan, he watched the races every weekend, watching his favorite drivers Dale Earnhart Sr., Dale Earnhart Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. He enjoyed traveling to the casinos with his wife and their friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father, Albert Kapes, in 1984, and his mother, Jennie Kapes, in 2007; a brother, Benedict Kapes, in 2002; his grandparents, Michael and Steffi Lincalis, whom he lived with until he started school; and a number of uncles and aunts.

He is survived by his wife, the former Rosemary Stefanisko, whom he married in August 1968 and would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary this year. He is also survived by his son, Brian, Bloomsburg; aunt, Katherine Howells, Columbia S.C.; cousins, Bonnie Harwick and her husband, Brooke, and their family, Chapin, S.C.; and Ronald Howells and his wife, Rose, and their family, Florida; nephews, Michael and Robert Kapes; grandnephew, Michael Kapes; grandniece, Alyssa Kapes; and other cousins.

There will be no public viewing and all services are being held at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements under the direction of Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc., 542 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton.