Donald C. Capps

1936 - 2017

QUINCY -- Donald C. Capps, 80, a longtime Quincy police officer and detective, died at 5:16 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 2017, at Blessing Hospital.

Born Aug. 19, 1936, in Nebo, Don was a son of Claude and Cleo Smith Capps. He married Patti E. Kelly on Nov. 21, 1971, in Quincy. She survives.

Don was a member of the last graduating class of Nebo High School in 1955. Following his graduation, he was employed at Tenk Hardware in Quincy until 1958 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Don served his country until being honorably discharged in 1961, having acquired the rank of sergeant.

Don returned to Quincy and continued to work at Tenk Hardware until joining the Quincy Police Department in July 1964. Among his many accomplishments while serving was becoming a detective at the end of his probationary year, moving up the ranks to captain and was commander of the Major Case Investigating Division. Don was honored by being named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 1968. Don was aggressive in educating the public about drugs in the 1970s, driving to speak at events and club meetings on his personal time. In 1972, Don attended the prestigious FBI National Academy, graduating at the top of his class of 250 and receiving the J. Edgar Hoover Scholastic Excellence Award. In addition to his other law enforcement duties, Don taught criminal justice courses at Western Illinois University in Macomb for 14 years and at John Wood Community College in Quincy for many years. Don retired from the Quincy Police Department in 1986.

Don and Patti moved to Colorado following his retirement from the Quincy Police Department where Don taught at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., and later moved to Grand Island, Neb., where Don was an instructor at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, becoming lead instructor of basic and advanced classes for 12 years. Don became known as "The Legend" at the Law Enforcement Training Center where he was known to have solved homicide cases over the phone and assisting many other fellow officers in solving cases.

Don was instrumental in organizing specialized training courses in forensics and death investigation with such notable instructors as Roy Hazelwood of the FBI, Betty Pat Gatliff, a well-known facial reconstructionist, and Dr. Robert Eckert, a forensic pathologist, as well as many other well-known specialists.

Don touched the lives of 1,680 police officers, sheriff's officers and game wardens throughout the state of Nebraska.

Don was a member of the International Police Chiefs Association and the Quincy Police Benevolent and Protective Association. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and his love of the mountains was always a highlight of his trip whenever he traveled back to Colorado.

Don was devoted to his family and is survived by his wife, Patti; his daughter, Kisha Capps of Quincy; and his grandson, Cooper Capps of Quincy.

Don was preceded in death by his parents.

SERVICES: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, at Faith Journey Church, 4115 N. 12th, with Pastor Ryan Wiemelt and Deacon Harry Cramer conducting. Cremation has been accorded to Don. Inurnment will be at a later date in Mason Cemetery, Nebo.

VISITATION: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

MEMORIALS: Quincy Police Department Honor Guard or the family of Don Capps to establish a scholarship in Criminal Justice at Quincy University.

ARRANGEMENTS: Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: zrsc.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.