Roy R. Kapteina

“You are a very nice man.” That’s what a nurse said to Roy Kapteina during his final weeks battling cancer. It was a simple statement, and it fit.  Roy R. Kapteina, 78, of Muscatine, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026

Roy was born in Pomeroy, Ohio in 1947 to the late Beulah Smith and Charles O. Kapteina, hard workers who inspired Roy to fix things and help improve the lives of those around him. When he was 6 years old, Roy moved with his family to Aurora, Illinois, where he stashed duplicate baseball cards between the floor boards in his bedroom. Seventy years later, he still wondered if there was treasure hidden in those floors on Prairie Street.

Roy graduated from West Aurora High School in 1965, and that’s where he also met the love of his life, Sharon Kapteina. They had been together since 10th grade and were married for 58 years. Roy committed to his career in the same way he committed to those he loved. After high school, Roy worked at Allsteel in a variety of roles, eventually transferring to Muscatine, Iowa in 1998 after the company was purchased by Hon Industries. He retired in 2009 after 44 years, and then began a second career at Sunnybrook (now Addington Place), working until the age 72 when he decided to retire for good.

Roy’s favorite hobbies combined excitement with a dash of nostalgia. He was a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds, The Ohio State Buckeyes, vintage cars, baseball cards, slot machines and overall tinkering. A true social butterfly, Roy also enjoyed attending concerts at the local winery, meeting good friends for lunch at McDonald’s and chatting up folks ringside while his wife Sharon trained and showed their Shetland Sheepdogs.

Roy’s gregarious nature really came alive during political campaign season. After moving to Iowa, he and Sharon got fully immersed in politics, shaking hands and meeting George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and many other vice presidents and presidential candidates.

Roy is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Kari (Dave) Palutis, granddaughter Ella Palutis and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mildred Phillips, brother Charles Kapteina Jr. and two nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 1 – 4 PM at the Merrill Hotel in Muscatine.  Memorials may be made to the Muscatine Humane Society in honor of a very nice man.  Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Muscatine is assisting the family.  Online condolence may be left to Roy’s family by visiting his obituary at www.sandhfuneralservice.com

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