Joseph Jasper Capozzi

Joe Capozzi

Joseph Jasper Capozzi was the eldest son of Pasquale “Cap" Capozzi and Maria Anna Mussatto. He was born in Kelowna, BC, February 12, 1922. Joe and his brothers attended Vancouver College as boarders and developed a love for athletics - rowing, football, etc.

Upon graduation from Vancouver College, Joe enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, hoping to become a pilot, but was instead recruited into a secret new unit of Britain's Royal Air Force. After training in Canada, he was transferred to Britain, where he remained for the duration of the war. 
Joe returned home and attended the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce. He went on to become an entrepreneur, selling real estate, working for Sun Life Insurance and owning lumber mills in Beaverdell and Lumby, BC..

He was an innovator of technical equipment, relating to the wine industry, developing a crusher and collapsible bins. He eventually formed a company called Canadian Winery Equipment, which started by making fermentation tanks and wound up building distillery equipment.

When the family decided to build the Capri Hotel and Shopping Centre, Joe had a construction company that was able to do the job. He loved building things - the Calona Winery and Distillery and Kelowna's first carpet factory.

In 1970 the Capozzi brothers acquired Panabode Cedar Homes, which Joe single-handedly built into one of Canada's largest manufacturers of prefab cedar log homes that were shipped around the world.

He was dedicated to his church, his country and his family. His closest friend and truest companion was his wife, Dee. He was a proud and involved father to his three children - Carla, Patrick and Kevin, and he cherished his grandchildren.

Joe was able to indulge his passion for flying, eventually attaining not only his private license, but also his Instrument Rating. He wanted to make sure that his beloved airplanes were suitably protected, and so he built one of the first hangers at the Kelowna Airport. He loved to travel and Mexico became a second home for many years.

Joe was a dedicated and competitive athlete who overcame a serious childhood accident that nearly cost him a leg. He remained undaunted and went on to become a high school football star, a competitive tennis player and an avid downhill skier, until Alzheimer's entered his life and took away his lifetime skiing pass at Big White. 

Joe passed away on September 29, 2004, at the age of 82.

Adapted from a story by Herb Capozzi in the 69th Report of the Okanagan Historical Society, 2005.