Nicholas “Nick” Henry Kaps Jr. passed away peacefully February 6, 2026, under hospice care at the Hospice House in Stockton, California. He was 95.
Nick was born in French Camp, California. He grew up in Stockton and attended Victory School, Fair Oaks Elementary School, Jefferson School, and Stockton High School. After high school, he enlisted in the US Army where he served for 20 years in various roles in the United States, Japan, and Germany. While in Germany, Nick met Rita. They were married in June 1963 and began a life together that lasted over 62 years. They moved back to the United States in 1964 where Nick served his final military assignment. Nick retired as a Sergeant First Class (E7) with many service ribbons and the National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
The family moved to Manteca in 1971. Nick began his second career as a Pharmacy Technician at San Joaquin General Hospital. Nick earned his Associates in Arts degree from San Joaquin Delta College in 1974. Upon his county retirement, Nick and Rita shared many adventures in their VW Camper van visiting all the hots springs they could find in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and even drove the Alaska-Canada highway to visit family in Alaska.
Nick was a long-time member of United Lutheran Church in Manteca. He was an active member of national and local amateur radio clubs and the Hermann Sons, a Stockton German club. Nick continued to serve his community as a founding volunteer with the Manteca Police Department Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police (SHARP) unit and for many years volunteered with Rita to support the San Joaquin County Ombudsman program.
Nick is survived by his wife; children, Thomas (Questa) of South Dakota; Janet (Jon)of Colorado; he had five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at United Lutheran Church in Manteca at 11 a.m. on March 5, 2026. Committal services with military honors will follow at a later date at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions be made to the American Heart
Association or Hospice of San Joaquin.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, February 21, 2026
