Herman Lee Kapustka

Herman Lee Kapustka, age 84, of Westminster, Colorado, went to be with Jesus after a battle with brain cancer very peacefully on October 20, 2019, surrounded by his wife, Dawn, and children, Lori, Eric and Sara. Herm was born April 11, 1935, on a farm near Elyria, Nebraska, to Steve and Eva Dubas Kapustka. He graduated from Ord High School in 1952 and the University of Nebraska in 1956 with a degree in Agriculture.

After graduating from the University, Herm entered the Navy’s Officer Candidate School where he received his officer’s commission and went on to complete flight training with the Naval Air Training Command in August, 1959. He served in the Navy progressing through ranks to Lieutenant Commander until January 1968. Herm flew the AD Skyraider off an aircraft carrier stationed in the Mediterranean Sea for several months of sea duty from 1960 to 1963. He completed a tour in Vietnam in 1966. Among his citations were the Viet Nam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for meritorious achievement in aerial flight during combat.

Herm began his career as a pilot with United Airlines in January of 1968. He was assigned to O’Hare Airport in Chicago where he was based for the next 20 years. In the first years at O’Hare, or ORD, he was able to continue with the Naval Reserves and fly A-4’s at NAS Glenview. During his years with United Airlines he flew the 727, DC-8, DC-10, and then finished his career in his favorite airplane the 727. He achieved the position of Captain in March of 1989 and flew in that capacity until his retirement of March 1995. He loved flying and always said, “There hasn’t been a day in my life when I didn’t want to go to work.”

After retiring from United, Herm’s second “work love” appeared—golf. For most of the next 15 years he worked part-time at local golf courses which gave him something to do and also free golf. His other interests were reading, working in the yard, traveling, and skiing. Herm enjoyed singing and was an active member of the Lutheran Chorale baritone section for many years. When he was 80 years old, he was skiing down a mountain at the Winter Park Resort and said, “What am I doing up here?” and decided it was time to hang up his skis.

He was active in local communities. While living in Roscoe, Illinois, he ran for the local school board and was elected to that Board where he served for the next five years. He also served as Director on two separate church boards. While living in Golden, Colorado, he volunteered for over 25 years as the Building and Grounds person for the Christian Action Guild. He also worked at the sales counter in the Christian Action Guild Thrift Shop and was always ready to give shoppers a “good deal.”

Herm is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Dawn Covey Kapustka, and three children, Lourine Lagerlof, Eric Lee Kapustka and wife, Melanie, and Sara Lusk and husband, Darryl; five grandchildren, Erik John Lagerlof and wife, Ellie, Karl Lagerlof, Isabel Kapustka, Sean Lusk and Ryan Lusk, one great-grandchild, Axel Lagerlof; brother, Al Kapustka, sisters, Virginia Sawdey and Phyllis Murphy, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Kay Kapustka, and parents, Steve C. and Eva Dubas Kapustka. The Celebration of Herm’s life will be at Family in Christ Community Church, Westminster, Colorado, on Sunday, December 22, 2019, with inurnment at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, Monday, December 23, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate in Herm's memory to either:

Beyond the Walls Fund, Family in Christ Community Church, 11355 N. Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, CO 80020

Food Bank, Christian Action Guild, 1401 N. Ford St., Golden, CO 80401

Treasurer, Lutheran Chorale, 228 Matchless Street, Louisville, CO 80028