Gary Wendell Kapfer

By Editor | June 25, 2025

August 10, 1943 – June 8, 2025

Gary Wendell Kapfer, age 81 of Peoria, AZ, peacefully passed away June 8, 2025 at Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ.

Gary was born at his family farm home near Wyaconda, Clark County, Missouri, on August 10, 1943, the second child of Wendell Bondurant Kapfer and Twila Mae Clatt Kapfer.

He married Linda Jo Childress Kapfer (who survives) on August 1, 1964 in Memphis, MO; the two having been married nearly 61 years. They were high school sweethearts.

Gary attended Mt. Hope School, Wyaconda Township, the last existing and maintained one-room schoolhouse in Missouri. He was a 1961 graduate of Wyaconda High School, Wyaconda, MO, and a 1967 graduate of Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University), Kirksville, MO, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English.

Gary taught Spanish for 20 years at Eldon High School, Eldon, MO, using the full immersion teaching method, with no English spoken in class. Many of his students reported testing out of their college language requirements, with one becoming a language specialist at the CIA. He built the family a beautiful home; a 2,400 square foot house, boat dock, and seawall on Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Ozark, MO. The family lived at the lake for 20 years, enjoying an active life of boating, skiing, and family gatherings.

After the family moved to Scottsdale, AZ, in 1988, Gary became a tour director for Tauck Tours, an award-winning luxury tour company. Gary provided colorful narration for America’s Canyonlands Tour – a seven-day tour, traveling through the Arizona and Utah canyonlands, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. When 9/11 occurred in 2001, stopping travel, Gary became a handy man. Word of mouth spread quickly – leading to a thriving business – until, in 2020, he developed COPD and respiratory problems.

After living in Scottsdale, AZ for 35 years, in 2023, Gary and Linda moved to a home in Peoria, AZ, to be near their daughter Heidi.

Gary was sunshine – full of life and joy. “Papa” loved to tease his grandkids and was always looking for a way to rile them up and get a reaction. His laugh was so contagious, he always had everyone laughing with him. To many, Gary was their hero and mentor – someone to look up to and love. He was talented and could do anything, from oil painting to building a house. He was a good storyteller and even greater listener.

A Godly, family man, Gary spread kindness and joy. He was loyal to his family and to God. The joy of the Lord was upon him. He was one of those people who you couldn’t help but love. We are blessed to have had him in our lives. Heaven is now a happier place.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Twila (Clatt) Kapfer, Wyaconda, MO; his grandparents Noah and Adda (Bondurant) Kapfer and Otto and Ollie (Grubb) Clatt, of Wyaconda, MO; in-laws Harold and Dorothy (Dye) Childress, Memphis, MO; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Dennis (Nancy Caldwell) Kapfer, Prescott, AZ and LeAnn (Childress) Carl, Lenexa, KS; and great niece Alexis Lee.

Survivors include his spouse, Linda Jo Childress Kapfer and two daughters, Mrs. Patrick (Kolette) Abel, Republic, MO, and Mrs. Michael (Heidi) Harazin, Peoria, AZ; brother Dennis Kapfer, Prescott, AZ; two sisters, Mrs. Merlyn (Sandra) Carter, Kirksville, MO and Mrs. Carl (Terry) Sommers, Arbela, MO; sisters-in-law Mrs. Mark (Candy/Candice) Humes, Wyaconda, MO, and Mrs. Mark (Mickey/Michella) Schaefer, Leawood, KS and Scottsdale, AZ; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was a special grandfather to his six grandchildren: Robert Abel, Arvada, CO, and Mrs. Braden (Hanna Abel) Sisco, Joplin, MO; Mrs. Ryan (Samantha Day) Stuntz, New York, NY, Harrison Day, Tucson, AZ, and Winston Day, New York, NY; Mrs. Chris (Kendall) Augustine, Flagstaff, AZ; and four great grandchildren, Lee and Drue Sisco, Joplin, MO, and Aria and Penny Augustine, Flagstaff, AZ.

Graveside services will be held in the fall at both the Wyaconda Cemetery, Wyaconda, MO, followed by the Slocum Cemetery, located at the Pleasant Ridge Church west of Greensburg, MO, with Chris Hull, nephew, officiating. Later this summer, watch the local newspapers for the date. The obituary and a memory page may be accessed at:

Arizona Online Cremations Obituaries

Memorials may be made to:

WYACONDA CEMETERY (Gary’s family cemetery)

Wyaconda Cemetery

c/o Sandra Ebeling

30486 State Route E

Wyaconda, MO 63474

SLOCUM CEMETERY (Linda’s family cemetery)

Slocum Cemetery

c/o Nena Palmer

55905 Oak Street

Novelty, MO 63460