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Paul Alfred Capelli M.D.
1932 - 2025
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Paul Capelli Obituary
Paul Alfred Capelli, M.D.
April 1, 1932 - September 17, 2025
Paul Alfred Capelli, M.D., passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with his loving family at his side, due to complications of a fall injury. Born on April 1, 1932, in Kenosha, Wis., to the late Alfred J. and Josephine (Ventura) Capelli. Dr. Capelli was deeply committed to his family, the care of his patients, and his service to the Kenosha community.
He attended St. James Elementary School and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in the Class of 1949. He attended Marquette University and graduated from Marquette University Medical School in 1956 with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors.
While at Marquette University, Dr. Capelli was introduced to Mary MacGillis by his best friend and Mary's brother, Dr. Alex MacGillis. They married in 1955.
Dr. Capelli completed his clinical training in Detroit and Chicago, then served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine.
After his military service, Dr. Capelli and his wife Mary returned to Kenosha with their family. From 1962 Dr. Capelli was an Obstetrics and Gynecology physician and surgeon in private practice delivering thousands of babies for Kenosha families.
Because of his life-long passion for children's education, Dr. Capelli ran for election and served on the Kenosha Unified School District #1 Board of Education from 1968 to 1971.
In 1984, Dr. Capelli was joined in private practice by his son-in-law, Dr. Michael A. Schellpfeffer. They practiced together for 15 years.
In 1994, his career evolved into medical leadership. By 1996, Dr. Capelli brought together a group of physicians to form the Southeastern Wisconsin Aurora Medical Group, serving as the first Chief of Staff for Aurora Medical Center - Kenosha. Soon after, his brother Dr. Alfred John "AJ" Capelli joined this group and together they advocated for creating a hospital and growing the depth and breadth of the medical staff. Their vision and engagement significantly expanded access to primary and specialty care in the Kenosha community. The construction of an Aurora Ambulatory Surgical Center followed within a year of the clinic's opening, and two years later, a new hospital was built in Kenosha by Aurora Health Care.
In 2003, Dr. Capelli retired from medicine to focus on his volunteer activities in the Kenosha community. He was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in Medicine from the Kenosha Bradford High School Alumni Association. In 2017, he was the Honored Guest at the Italian American Columbus Day Banquet.
Dr. Capelli's greatest pleasure was watching his family grow. He is survived by Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer and her husband Dr. Michael Schellpfeffer; Paula Capelli Eldridge and her husband Dr. E. John Eldridge; John A. Capelli and his wife Sophia Capelli; Dr. Christopher Capelli and his wife Mary Jo Esenther; Dr. Gregory J. Capelli and his wife Dr. Mary Schroeder-Capelli; Dr. Paul V. Capelli and his wife Dr. Nina Kayeum; Dr. Alexander G. P. Capelli and his wife Dr. Frances Caruso Capelli; Dr. Regina Capelli-Scheidt and her husband Dr. Karl Scheidt; Anne Capelli Golding and her husband, Larry Golding; and Joseph MacGillis-Capelli and his wife, Francesca Capelli. His 32 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren will greatly miss their grandfather.
Dr. Capelli will also be missed by his siblings, Pauline (G. Thomas) McTernan and Carole (Dr. Raymond) Knight; and sister-in-law, Julie (the late Dr. Alfred J.) Capelli and their families.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Proko Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Prayers will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Proko Funeral Home at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 2224 45th St, Kenosha, at 10 a.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at St. George Cemetery.
The family extends its sincere appreciation for providing exceptional medical care to Dr. Anna Silenzi and Dr. David Knight of Froedtert South-Saint Catherine's Hospital; Dr. Gladys Holland of the Kenosha VA Clinic; the Department of Orthopedics at the Zablocki VA Hospital in Woods, Wisconsin; and the Kenosha Hospice Alliance.
Dr. Capelli was a voracious reader who regularly visited the Kenosha Public Library. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kenosha Public Library Foundation.
Proko Funeral Home
5111 60th Street
Kenosha, WI 53144
262-654-3533
www.prokofuneralhome.com
April 1, 1932 - September 17, 2025
Paul Alfred Capelli, M.D., passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with his loving family at his side, due to complications of a fall injury. Born on April 1, 1932, in Kenosha, Wis., to the late Alfred J. and Josephine (Ventura) Capelli. Dr. Capelli was deeply committed to his family, the care of his patients, and his service to the Kenosha community.
He attended St. James Elementary School and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in the Class of 1949. He attended Marquette University and graduated from Marquette University Medical School in 1956 with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors.
While at Marquette University, Dr. Capelli was introduced to Mary MacGillis by his best friend and Mary's brother, Dr. Alex MacGillis. They married in 1955.
Dr. Capelli completed his clinical training in Detroit and Chicago, then served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine.
After his military service, Dr. Capelli and his wife Mary returned to Kenosha with their family. From 1962 Dr. Capelli was an Obstetrics and Gynecology physician and surgeon in private practice delivering thousands of babies for Kenosha families.
Because of his life-long passion for children's education, Dr. Capelli ran for election and served on the Kenosha Unified School District #1 Board of Education from 1968 to 1971.
In 1984, Dr. Capelli was joined in private practice by his son-in-law, Dr. Michael A. Schellpfeffer. They practiced together for 15 years.
In 1994, his career evolved into medical leadership. By 1996, Dr. Capelli brought together a group of physicians to form the Southeastern Wisconsin Aurora Medical Group, serving as the first Chief of Staff for Aurora Medical Center - Kenosha. Soon after, his brother Dr. Alfred John "AJ" Capelli joined this group and together they advocated for creating a hospital and growing the depth and breadth of the medical staff. Their vision and engagement significantly expanded access to primary and specialty care in the Kenosha community. The construction of an Aurora Ambulatory Surgical Center followed within a year of the clinic's opening, and two years later, a new hospital was built in Kenosha by Aurora Health Care.
In 2003, Dr. Capelli retired from medicine to focus on his volunteer activities in the Kenosha community. He was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in Medicine from the Kenosha Bradford High School Alumni Association. In 2017, he was the Honored Guest at the Italian American Columbus Day Banquet.
Dr. Capelli's greatest pleasure was watching his family grow. He is survived by Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer and her husband Dr. Michael Schellpfeffer; Paula Capelli Eldridge and her husband Dr. E. John Eldridge; John A. Capelli and his wife Sophia Capelli; Dr. Christopher Capelli and his wife Mary Jo Esenther; Dr. Gregory J. Capelli and his wife Dr. Mary Schroeder-Capelli; Dr. Paul V. Capelli and his wife Dr. Nina Kayeum; Dr. Alexander G. P. Capelli and his wife Dr. Frances Caruso Capelli; Dr. Regina Capelli-Scheidt and her husband Dr. Karl Scheidt; Anne Capelli Golding and her husband, Larry Golding; and Joseph MacGillis-Capelli and his wife, Francesca Capelli. His 32 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren will greatly miss their grandfather.
Dr. Capelli will also be missed by his siblings, Pauline (G. Thomas) McTernan and Carole (Dr. Raymond) Knight; and sister-in-law, Julie (the late Dr. Alfred J.) Capelli and their families.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Proko Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Prayers will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Proko Funeral Home at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 2224 45th St, Kenosha, at 10 a.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at St. George Cemetery.
The family extends its sincere appreciation for providing exceptional medical care to Dr. Anna Silenzi and Dr. David Knight of Froedtert South-Saint Catherine's Hospital; Dr. Gladys Holland of the Kenosha VA Clinic; the Department of Orthopedics at the Zablocki VA Hospital in Woods, Wisconsin; and the Kenosha Hospice Alliance.
Dr. Capelli was a voracious reader who regularly visited the Kenosha Public Library. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kenosha Public Library Foundation.
Proko Funeral Home
5111 60th Street
Kenosha, WI 53144
262-654-3533
www.prokofuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kenosha News on Sep. 21, 2025.
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2 Entries
Gerry (Pascucci) & Gary Lipor
Yesterday
Our sympathy to Dr Paul Capelli´s family. I worked for him for a short time, and he delivered my first child. May he RIP
Beverly Gold
September 21, 2025
He delivered my daughter 59 years ago. A very nice man. We need more good Dr's like Dr. Capelli
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