FINNEYTOWN — For more than 45 years, Urban Cappel helped Cincinnati celebrate.

        As one of the founders of Cappel's Display Co. Inc., he was responsible for supplying leading downtown retail stores with items to dress up their storefront windows. He even made some of them himself.

        After getting requests for his products from people outside the retail industry, he and his brother Bill of Monfort Heights made Cappel's the decorating and party store that today is synonymous with special occasions.

        Mr. Cappel died Friday of lung disease at Wellspring Health Center in Hartwell. The longtime Finneytown resident was 84.

        “He loved being with people and was a great family man,” said his son, Richard Cappel of Finneytown, who along with a cousin, Ray Cappel of Monfort Heights, owns Cappel's.

        Raised in Camp Washington, Mr. Cappel graduated from Roger Bacon High School in 1936, then went on to open a Camp Washington butcher shop with Bill Cappel. In 1941, at age 23, he entered the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater in the 147th Infantry Division.

        After he was honorably discharged in 1945, he returned to Cincinnati and opened Cappel's Display Co. in Brighton, close to Central Parkway, with his brother.

        Eventually, his other siblings, Clara of Evanston and John of Anderson Township, joined them in running the business.

        Shortly after it opened, the company moved downtown, occupying locations on Fourth Street, then Third Street, before moving to its current location, 920 Elm. St.

        Initially a manufacturing and wholesale company, the business began selling party and decorating supplies to the public in the 1950s. In the 1980s, the Cappels established satellite stores in suburban locations that were open for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. It was at this time that they also began selling costumes.

        Today, there are five Cappel's locations, including the Elm Street store. Another on Race Street sells costumes only. Other locations are in Cheviot, Blue Ash and Anderson Township.

        Mr. Cappel and his brother Bill semi-retired in 1971 when they purchased an 80-acre farm in Indiana.

        He retired entirely in 1991.

        Mr. Cappel's wife of 50 years, Marion Werle Cappel, preceded him in death in 1997.

        In addition to his son, brothers and sister, survivors include a daughter, Sherry Kennedy of College Hill; two other sons, Steve of Mount Airy and Tom of Price Hill; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

        Visitation will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, at St. Vivian Church, 7600 Winton Road, Finneytown.

        Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, also at the church. Burial will be in New St. Joseph Cemetery, Price Hill.

        Memorials: McAuley High School Development Fund, 600 Oakwood Ave., Cincinnati, 45224, or to the Roger Bacon Endowment Fund, 4320 Vine St., Cincinnati, 45217.

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