His funeral will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Patrick Church of Merna with Rev. Dustin Schultz officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.

He was born April 7, 1929, the ninth child of Mariano and Rosaliea Rini Capodice. Jack graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1947, where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball. During his second year at Illinois State Normal University, he met his bride-to-be, Betty Crews.

Upon graduating with a degree in Business, and her with a Math degree, the United States Army stationed Jack at Fort Benning, GA. He and Betty married and spent three years there.

Upon returning to Bloomington, Jack joined the family business, M. Capodice & Sons, founded by his father (Mariano) and eventually run by Jack, three brothers and two nephews. The company had a major presence from the 1930's-1980's, catering to local businesses, restaurants, and area grocery stores. A favorite part of Jack's job was when M. Capodice & Sons hosted local school field trips and Boy/Girl Scout troops - all youngsters left with some expanded food chain knowledge and the requisite banana. The wholesale produce company regularly employed young area athletes who attended ISU and IWU, including basketball legend Jack Sikma and baseball great Doug Rader. Over the years, the business gave special support to various charities, the mission, and Miller Park Zoo.

During all this, Jack and Betty were busy raising their brood of eight children, most of whom spent some time working at "the store" during summer break, etc. They all saw firsthand the early hours and hard work that their dad put forth every day.... a work ethic they strove to mirror.

Jack was a huge sports fan, playing baseball for the Bloomington Bobcats and taking up golf while in college. Jack won the Lakeside Club Championship and he and Gene Funk were runners up in the Twin City Golf Championship. For decades, Jack and Betty were ISU Redbird season ticket holders and boosters. Under ISU Athletic Director Milt Weisbecker, Jack was appointed as the Alumni representative to the Athletic Board and in 2010 Betty and Jack served as ISU's Alumni homecoming King and Queen.

Jack's pride and joy was his family, Betty, his eight children, 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Their unwavering support of the church and catholic schools lead to the establishment of the Capodice Family Scholarship at Central Catholic High School (CCHS) upon Betty's death in 2019. The goal is to grow it to the point of being able to fully fund a student's tuition for an entire year.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, five sisters, his beloved wife, Betty, and second daughter, Teresa (Elmer) Heiney. He is survived by his children: Carol (Carl) Godbey, Tina (Mark) Stratman, Jack, Jr. (Joan), Mary (John) Gonzales, Jane (Mark) Frillici, Cece (Bob) Barnett and Nick (Nori) Capodice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the CCHS Capodice Family Scholarship or a charity of the donor's choice.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Pantagraph on Oct. 2, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Jack Capodice

Sponsored by Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home.

6 Entries

Thomas Eddy

October 12, 2022

Our condolences to the family. My father worked with Jack and his brothers at the produce company many years back. I remember going to the warehouse with my dad and meeting everyone there. They always supported my father on the job and at home. May peace be with the family at his loss. Thomas Eddy.

Stan McVey

October 5, 2022

So saddened to learn of Uncle Jack!s passing. We are unable to attend his services. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family. We have sent a memorial contribution to the CCHS Capodice Family Scholarship. Again, we send our condolences. Stan:Maureen McVey and Family

Robert E. Handley

October 4, 2022

To the Capodice family please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of Jack. We have a long history together. I feel like I have lost a family member. I miss Betty and now Jack. We have had some great times and many good memories together. And now they are together again.

Sharon Walters

October 4, 2022

A good day at Redbird Arena was when Jack came into the athletic offices with his sunshine. I am sorry family for the sunless day
you now are having, but happy for the SONshine he now is experiencing

Kerry (the Turk) Doyle

October 2, 2022

I was just one of dozens to matriculate through `the banana plant´, which provided way more education than the university.
Jack left a life- long impression for fairness, good disposition, and hard work. He was an excellent mentor.
Family, please take comfort in knowing that nearly 50 years later, your father is held in high regard.