Elaine M. Kappes

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 2:56 pm

Elaine M. Kappes, 76, of Decorah, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at the Wellington Place in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery Cresco. Visitation was from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at the church. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home 404 N Elm Street Cresco was in charge of arrangements.

Elaine Marie Kappes was the fifth child born in a family of five children to Leo and Bertha (Leibold) Kappes Sept. 9, 1939, in Cresco. She lived on the family farm until the age of 43, at which time she entered the Winneshiek County Care Facility. In her younger years, Elaine enjoyed playing softball and basketball with her nieces and nephews, driving tractor for haying, harvesting oats and even silo filling. She also helped Leonard with cleaning and bedding cattle and hog barns. After she got a little older, Elaine would rather tell others what to do. Her biggest downfall was when she lost three special people in her life — a sister-in-law in June 1980, her mother in December 1980 and Leonard’s father-in-law in January 1981. It wasn’t long after this time that she entered the Wellington Place.

Surviving Elaine are her brothers, Zeno (Helen) Kappes of Decorah, Neil (Kathy) Kappes of Elma and Leonard (Angeline) Kappes of Ridgeway, and their families.

Preceding her in death are her father, Leo in 1987; mother, Bertha in 1980; and sister, Rita in 1985.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Wellington Place for the loving care Elaine received all the years she lived at the care center and also the Winneshiek Hospice for the care she received the last few weeks.