Vincent Kapczynski

Vincent Frank "Copper" Kapczynski Sr., age 79, of Houston, formerly of West, passed away Saturday, January 3, 2009 after a lengthy battle with emphysema. A rosary will be recited 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, followed by visitation until 8:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. "Copper" was born on March 12, 1929 to Vincent A. and Annie (Soukup) Kapczynski. He graduated from St. Mary's Elementary School, and from West High School, where he was an all-star for the basketball team in 1947. He attended telegraph school in Ft. Worth and shortly thereafter hired on with Southern Pacific Railroad, for which he worked as a train dispatcher for over 40 years. He retired from service with SP in 1987, having worked in Small, El Paso and Houston. On July 19, 1950 Copper married his high-school sweetheart, Nona Jean Recek in West. A devout Catholic, he treasured his time at St. Mary's Church in West, St. Pius X Church in El Paso, and Assumption Church in Houston, where he attended Mass faithfully for over 48 years. Copper is preceded in death by his parents; several beloved aunts, uncles and cousins; an infant sister, Cecilia; a younger brother, Raymond; in-laws John and Catherine Recek; and brother-in-law, John Lee "Junior" Recek. Survivors include his beloved wife of 58 years, Nona Jean Kapczynski of Houston; daughter, Susan Gale Kapczynski West and husband Gary of Houston; son, Vincent F. "Rekap" Kapczynski, Jr. and wife Shelia of Hockley; granddaughter Brenna Aislinn Bollom of Dallas; grandson Garrett Vincent Theodore West of Houston; sister, Annie Vrba and husband Ermin of Sherman; two brothers, Roman Kapczynski and wife LaVerne of Athens, GA, and Benjamin Kapczynski and wife Jeanne of West; two sisters-in-law, Georgia Kapczynski of McGregor and Barbara Recek of West; uncle, Walter Soukup of West; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pallbearers are Art Henson, Darrell Kapczynski, Scott Kapczynski, Pete Montesino, Michael Recek, Edwin "Bubba" Sefcik, Tony Vrba, and Garrett West. Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Southern Pacific Railroad Community and Harry Volcik. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Mary's School Endowment Fund in West or to the St. Pius X High School Scholarship Fund, 811 W. Donovan, Houston, TX 77091-5699.