July 16, 2026—July 11, 2025
Jack Lee Capps, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Retired) was born in Liberty, MO, to Ernest Lee and Georgia Hall Capps and raised on their farm. He attended William Jewell College one year before appointment to the U.S. Military Academy by Harry S. Truman, graduating in 1948. Jack’s service included postings to Germany, Ethiopia, and USMA, where he served 28 years and retired as Head of the English Department after 44 years in the Regular Army.
Jack was a renaissance man with a deep knowledge of many subjects as well as possessing many practical skills and talents. His Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania was published by Harvard University Press in 1966 and established him as a leading Emily Dickinson scholar.
A long-time resident of Lakeview Village in Lenexa, KS, Jack died there on July 11, 2025. Marie, his wife of 62 years predeceased him in 2015.
Jack is survived by daughter Kate Capps (Overland Park); son Steve and his wife Peggy, granddaughter Allison Harper, her husband Jon Morrison, and great-grandchildren Matthew and Abigail Morrison (all of Rhode Island); and several nieces and nephews and their extended families.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 6630 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas 66202. There will be no visitation beforehand.
Jack will be interred on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Memorial Cemetery, 520 East Mississippi Street, Liberty, MO 64068.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack's name to the following:
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
6630 Nall Avenue
Mission, Kansas 66202
https://tinyurl.com/44rkr7x9
The Lakeview Village Foundation
9100 Park Street
Lenexa, Kansas 66215
https://tinyurl.com/5e5rrnjj
To leave fond memories or condolences for Jack's family, please visit ChurchArcherPasley.com, as arrangements are under the direction of Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home, 816-781-2000.
