Rod was born the seventh and last child of Frank Capel and Mary Edna Hume Cory in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.
At the age of 15 he and his parents, along with his older sister Joy emigrated to Salt Lake City, Utah where Rod’s grandparents, uncle and other family were already settled. Rod’s family in Utah were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe and had emigrated several years earlier. After some time, Rod and his parents also became convinced of the restored gospel and joined the Church as well.
Rod graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City, where he was very active in the ROTC program. After High School he joined the National Guard. His unit was activated for service in the Korean conflict. Rod served in the rank of Seargent in the 194th Engineering Battalion. His four older brothers served for the Canadian military in both the European and Asian theaters in World War II. He admired them greatly for that service and followed in their footsteps.
After an honorable discharge and returning from Korea, Rod met Ann Martineau in Jacob Lake, Arizona where they were both working for the summer. They quickly fell in love and were married on December 11, 1952 in the Salt Lake temple. Together they brought 9 children into the world. Their progeny have multiplied to include 63 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Rod loved to build things. He worked in the construction trades and as a county building inspector most of his career. He also worked as a lumberjack, retail sales, farmer, rancher, dairy hand, and started small businesses: a restaurant, a custodial service, and a highway line striping service. He bought a post peeler and conscripted the whole family into living in the woods, cutting down large stands of lodgepole pine and making them into grape stakes for sale to the west coast grape-growers.
As a servant in the Church, Rod held many callings, including clerk, teacher, Scout leader, bishopric counselor, branch president and bishop. The people he served loved him greatly and he gave of his love and time generously.
Rod and Ann never did achieve great financial means or lofty honors of the world, but the love they gave to their children and grandchildren is of immeasurable value. Rod taught his children the honor and joy of honest, hard work. He shared and lived his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ in powerful ways. He served his fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with dedication and compassion.
Rod passed away on August 5th, 2022 after a long struggle with dementia. He has been “taken home to that God who gave [him] life.” We are confident he has been welcomed into the arms of his Savior and his family who preceded him there: his father and mother, his four brothers and two sisters, his grandson Conner Capel, great-grandson Ethan Capel and others who loved him during his life.
*Find a link to the funeral service broadcast at the Rasmussen Mortuary website.
* The link will be active on Wednesday morning:
http://rasmussenmortuary.com/rodney-james-cory-capel/#more-13541
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He was instrumental in supporting me in accepting the gospel. The entire Capel family were my best and loyal friends and are all special people.
Our hearts go out to them.
We are heart broken Grandpa Rod isn't with us anymore, but find peace in knowing he is no longer sick and is able to enjoy his new body in heaven with our heavenly father! Our hearts go out to Grandma Ann and our Aunt's and Uncles during this time of mourning and celebrating Grandpa's life.
Lots of love and hugs,
Landon, Elizabeth and Aunika Steffler
Rod was such a wonderful man always in such good spirits. Fun loving guy, he will be deeply missed. And thought of often. Rod make sure you tell everyone up there I said hi and we love you and will miss you ❤️