James Daniel Capps

James Daniel “Jim” Capps

February 25, 1941 – July 28, 2026

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

James Daniel “Jim” Capps passed away on July 28, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas. Born on February 25, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Paul A. and Florence K. Capps, Jim spent much of his youth in El Paso, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Nancy. The two eloped to Mexico in April 1960. Together they shared 61 years of marriage, raised five daughters, and built a life beautifully centered on God.

Early in their marriage, Jim fought a fierce battle with Hodgkin’s Disease at a very young age. Facing a close call with death and not knowing if he would survive even six months, Jim prayed and asked God for just five more years of life. God answered with a miracle, granting him not merely five more years, but many additional decades of life. Following this profound brush with death, Jim and Nancy stepped out completely in faith to pursue a lifelong dream. They purchased a 280-acre ranch in Montrose, Colorado, where they raised their family until 1972.

The family then settled in Farmington, New Mexico, where Jim worked for the City of Farmington, retiring in 2000 as an electrical estimator. Earlier in life, he had been an accomplished motorcycle racer, which inspired him to open his own motorcycle shop in Farmington. Never one to slow down, Jim completed numerous triathlons, including Ironman races, traveling with Nancy for competitions. In retirement, he devoted himself to raising, training, and riding mules, deeply admiring their strength and dependability.

Above all, Jim was a man who loved Jesus. Baptized into Christ in 1965, he later attended the Sunset School of Preaching. Although his church affiliations changed over the years, his devotion to God, Scripture, prayer, and Christian fellowship never wavered. He knew the Bible remarkably well, loved reading Not I but Christ, and found pure joy in singing old a cappella hymns such as “At the Cross,” “Glad Reunion Day,” and “When We All Get to Heaven”—always looking forward to the promise of being “absent from the body and present with the Lord.”

His faith was active and alive. Jim and Nancy opened their home to foster children, especially troubled teenagers in need of love, discipline, and stability. He regularly invested in people struggling with addiction, homelessness, and hardship, offering practical help, encouragement, and hope. One foster son, Guy Stalcup, remained a beloved member of the family throughout the years. Jim will be remembered as loyal, disciplined, generous, hardworking, and deeply devoted to faith and family.

Nancy’s death in 2021 left a profound emptiness in Jim’s life. He missed her dearly while finding comfort in knowing she was safe with Jesus. Praying for a companion to share his remaining years, God answered him by bringing Daphne Delmonico into his life. They met through Christian Mingle, where one of the first things that caught Daphne’s eye was Jim proudly wearing a Trump shirt in his profile picture—an early and lighthearted sign that they shared strong conservative convictions. They soon discovered an even deeper bond, rooted in their love for God, a dedicated prayer life, and beautifully aligned values. Their four years of marriage brought renewed joy, and Jim moved to Wichita to begin this blessed new chapter with Daphne by his side.

Jim is survived by his wife, Daphne Delmonico Capps; his five daughters, Kristi DeVilbiss (Rick), Terri Karlin (Jeff), Tonya Thompson (Lorenzo), Rachael Bratten, and Candace Gonzales; his stepchildren, Donna Gorman (David) and Michael Bishop; and his foster son, Guy Stalcup (DeeDee).

He is also survived by his ten grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Judy Rutherford, Kenneth Capps (Katie), and Charlotte Lindgren (Earl).

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nancy; his parents, Paul A. and Florence K. Capps; his parents-in-law, J.R. and Vesta Cobb; his brother-in-law, William T. Cobb; and his great-granddaughter, Faith DeVilbiss.

Jim spent his life longing for the day when faith would become sight. Today, the hymns he loved are his reality, and his family finds peace in knowing he is home with his Lord.

Family and friends will gather at Jim's property in Farmington, New Mexico, on October 17, 2026, for an informal celebration of his life with hymns, prayer, and shared memories. Additional details will be announced as they become available.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to a ministry serving persecuted Christians, such as Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs, or to a reputable organization serving veterans—causes that were especially close to Jim's heart.