Howard Joseph Kapfer, III

August 20, 2025. With God’s good grace, Howard Joseph Kapfer 3rd, passed with quiet dignity in the comfort of his home in Keymar, Maryland.

With his wife and family at his side, reflections of Howard’s life of love, laughter, challenges, and even a few tears, filled the house. With every memory shared, his faith in God, Almighty, was abundantly prominent. It was his faith that guided his every decision. Through his lifelong example, those around him watched and learned, most especially, his children.

October, 2024. Howard was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the bile duct with significant metastasis to the liver. Emergency surgical intervention allowed relief of symptoms, but traditional cancer treatment options would be futile. Howard made the courageous decision to forego the suffering of chemotherapy, and chose to move forward, walking in his faith. With full support of his family, he decided on palliative treatment and end of life care from the local BridgingLife Hospice. It was a decision that proved to be a beautiful one.

Born and schooled in Baltimore, Howard graduated Mt. St. Joseph College in 1959 and attended University of Maryland/Baltimore Business College.

As a young man, Howard was introduced to the trade of plumbing which would one day lead him and his two sons to start the business of Associated Plumbing Services. Howard took great pride in building this business from the ground up. With the success of the business, he gave back to the community. For more than 15 years, Howard gave of his time and resources, volunteering with Rebuilding Together, formerly, “Christmas in April.” Howard was a humble giver. We will never know of all those he helped whether through encouragement, handyman services, or other means.

Howard loved to travel and was a golf enthusiast, but construction and renovation were his great talents - evidenced by the transformation of his home on Nottingham Way in Ellicott City and then the restoration of his 140 year old home on Middleburg Road, in Keymar.

Howard is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Lynn (Hook) and his five children, Debbie Weetenkamp (Harry), Joe, Mary Werking (Bob), Dan (Diana), and Lisa Hatcher (Wayne). He was also graced with seventeen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who lovingly call him “Poppers.”

The family will receive friends 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, August 25, 2025 at the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 136 E. Baltimore Street, Taneytown (21787). A funeral mass will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 44 Frederick Street, Taneytown (21787). Interment will be private.

Donations may be made to the BridgingLife Foundation at https://www.lifebridgehealth.org/giving/bridginglife.