Diane Perry Kapp

Diane Perry Kapp of Provo, Utah, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Diane was born on March 27, 1946, to Rolland and Miriam Perry in a field hospital in Los Alamos, NM, where her father worked as a nuclear physicist on the Manhattan Project. She had two older brothers, Douglas and David, and an older sister, Kathleen.

After World War II, her father returned to the University of Wisconsin to finish his doctorate, and Diane and the rest of the family moved to Orem, Utah, to live with family in a small house with no indoor plumbing. The family later moved to Logan, Utah. She was advanced from 1st to 2nd grade when her teacher discovered she was reading at a 3rd-grade level, albeit upside down. She learned to read by sitting across from her sister, Kathleen, as she read aloud. Diane learned tap, ballet, and acrobatics as a child and began piano lessons at age seven. In 1956, the family moved to a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Primary early, she wasn’t yet old enough to attend Mutual, so the bishop called her to be the Primary Organist, which was her first church calling. In 7th grade, she accompanied the Junior High Band on the piano, and as a senior, she performed Grieg's “Concerto in A Minor” accompanied by the school orchestra for Class Day and was awarded the national “Arion” music award.

Diane met her best friend and future husband, Gary Kapp, when she was 12 years old at her brother Doug’s and Gary’s sister Janice’s wedding reception in Vale, Oregon. They met again later when a fortuitous change of events rerouted Gary through Chicago on his way home from his mission. Diane’s family lived in Chicago, and a five-hour layover was enough time for Diane’s parents to drive Gary around the city, where he said he realized how beautiful she was. They began dating when Diane and Gary attended BYU. She entered BYU at 17 years old and paid her way through by accompanying musicians on the piano. She could sight-read almost anything. She also played the flute very well.

A tragic cooking accident severely burned her face, legs, feet, and entire right arm, and Diane had to return to Chicago to undergo three different incredibly painful skin grafts from her legs. Doctors said she would never play piano again, but through determination and hard work, she became an incredible pianist. After writing to each other for over a year, Diane returned to BYU, where she and Gary continued dating, and they were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan, Utah Temple on June 4, 1965.

Diane’s primary focus was on raising her children. Her pregnancies were incredibly hard on her physically, but each time she knew she could get through it with faith and determination. After four boys, she lost a daughter, Amber, as a full-term stillbirth. This was incredibly difficult for Diane, but she knew in her heart there were more children for her and Gary to raise, and they eventually welcomed another boy and then finally a girl into the family. Later in life, when Kira began taking violin lessons, Diane took up the violin as well and learned to play well enough to be part of the American Fork Symphony. Playing violin hurt her neck, so she switched to flute and played with the symphony until 2006.

Diane loved to hike and spend time in nature. She hiked Mt. Timpanogos several times. She started a women’s hiking group with her friend Ann Mineer, and she loved being in the mountains. Her favorite hikes were a trip with Gary to the Canadian Rockies and hiking with Gary to Scout Falls. She enjoyed skiing as well and went with her children as often as she could. Back injuries and many surgeries caused her to be homebound prematurely, and even though she was in incredible pain every day for over 20 years, she never lost her positive attitude and faith.

Diane and Gary moved into their current house in 1971. She served faithfully in her church as ward organist and in the Relief Society, Young Women, Primary, and Scouts. She also served as Stake Primary President and made many good friends while serving in that capacity. Diane’s best friendships developed with her ward neighbors, who became lifelong friends. Her ward family took care of her better than anyone could have asked, including providing meals for them every week for many years. Diane’s final wish was to let everyone who had served her so well over the years know how much she appreciated it and loved them all. There are too many people to thank individually, but there are many who have gone to extraordinary lengths.

Diane was preceded in death by her daughter, Amber, and her brother Douglas (Janice) Perry, and is survived by her husband, Gary; sons Kevin (Kim) Kapp of Salem, UT, Tim (Kristie) Kapp of Provo, UT, Josh (Cami) Kapp of Lehi, UT, Chris (Jenny) Kapp of Lehi, UT, Sam (Keely) Kapp of Pleasant Grove, UT; and daughter Kira (James) of Qatar; as well as her brother David (Frances) Perry of Provo, UT, and sister Kathleen (Dennis) Schade of Dallas, TX.

An evening viewing for family and friends will be held from 6-8 pm on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the LDS Church located at 1122 North Grand Avenue, Provo, UT. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, also at 1122 North Grand Avenue, Provo, with a viewing held that morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, UT.

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