Esther Louise Kapp, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away on June 5, 2026 at the age 91. She was born March 1, 1935, to Francis and Lucille (Huston) Maulbetsch.
Esther graduated from Ann Arbor High School class of 1953. She married Richard Walter Kapp in Ann Arbor on June 27, 1953.
She grew up on a farm in rural Washtenaw County. As a child she loved to work outside with her dad and brother, Lewis, tending the farm animals and helping to rebuild tractor engines during the winter months.
In the summer months, she worked in the fields where they grew vegetables that they took to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. She continued her love of gardening and attending the Farmers Market for over 50 years. As the years progressed she expanded her passion for farming to include flowers and vegetables grown in her greenhouses.
In her later years, she took up baking and attending craft shows and markets with her baked goods, where she was famous for her soft pretzels and dinner rolls.
Esther enjoyed being outdoors in the sunshine working with her hands, spending time with family, relaxing weekends at the cabin, and baking giant batches of her Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
She is survived by her children: James (Kim) Kapp of Leslie, Linda (Bruce) Rogers of Munith, Bob (Emily) Kapp of Dansville, Walter (Carolanne) Kapp of Stockbridge, and Daniel (Paula) Kapp of Brooklyn; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother, John (Jane) Maulbetsch of Ann Arbor, sister-in-law, Mary (Alan) Erke of Chelsea; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Lucille (Huston) Maulbetsch; youngest son, Edward Kapp in 1984; her husband, Richard Kapp in 2006; and granddaughter, Jenny Tanck in 2025; brothers, Lewis Maulbetsch, Neil Maulbetsch, and sisters-in-law, Virginia Maulbetsch and Rebecca Maulbetsch.
Visitation will be held at Jeruel Baptist Church, Munith on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 4-7 p.m., and on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 10-11 a.m.
Funeral services will be held at Jeruel Baptist Church on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Scott Castle officiating. Burial will follow at Munith Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Dansville Chapter of the FFA.
