Sven Lindberg Capps, a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, peacefully entered his eternal rest on January 17, 2023 at his earthly home in Falls of Rough, KY after a long hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s at age 88 1/2. By his side was his wife of 35 1/2 years, Dixie Josephine Dean Capps.
Sven was born in Nashville, TN on June 22, 1934, the son of Searcy Nilsson Capps, a hardworking Irish decedent, and Selma Augusta Stenberg Capps, a strong warm-hearted Swed. He was raised in a devout Lutheran home in Whites Creek, TN where he learned at an early age to work hard and love deep. Sven graduated with the Class of 1954 from Joelton high School. As a Blue Jay, she was an astounding pitcher and shortstop for the men’s baseball team and point guard for the men’s basketball team.
Upon graduation at the age of 19, Sven enlisted in the U. S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Curtis AV4 in Honolulu, San Diego and Norfolk. He valued this service highly and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer Second Class. During his active service, he and crew set up life like villages on Enewetak Atoll of the Marshall Islands Pacific Proving grounds. On November 1st, 1952 the United States detonated the world’s first hydrogen bomb on Enewetak in the South Pacific as part of Operation Ivy while Sven was aboard ship just off the island. The crew wore radiation testers around their necks to constantly monitor exposure. Once the fire ball had dissipated, they were allowed to remove the cotton from their ears and the special glasses from their eyes to witness the aftermath. Sven enjoyed traveling the world and the experiences it brought during his time in the Navy. While in the Navy, his mother would write two or more times a week, opening with “My Darling Sailor Boy” and closing with “Love Always, Mom”.
On October 30, 1954, he married Patsy Dean Newland. During their 31 years together, they had one son Michael Anthony Capps (age 63 of Whites Creek, TN).
Sven dedicated 31 years of his life to the Nashville Electric Service working the Line crew. He and Ronnie Weaver hold the record for most overtime, double overtime, and triple overtime at N.E.S. still to this day. This record has never and will never be broken as a result of OSHA enforcing restrictions to limit overtime for the safety of N>E.S. employees shortly after.
On August 22, 1987, Sven remarried to Dixie Josephine Dean Capps. Together, they had one daughter, Natasha Lind Capps Paulsen (age 34 of Owensboro, KY). Sven retired from N.E.S. on February 1, 1990 and moved with his wife and daughter to the Dean Family Farm in Falls of Rough, KY.
Sven loved watching and playing sports, farming, gardening, hunting, fishing, traveling and most of all – time spent with his family and loved ones who were his greatest joys. He was most proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren and was their number on fan in all their endeavors.
Sven will forever be remembered by his family and friends for his emerald eyes that danced when he smiled, his gentlemanlike demeanor, and bigger than life heart displayed by all of the amazing things he did for so many people.
He is survived by his loving, devoted, and caregiving wife, Dixie Josephine Dean Capps.
One son: Michael Anthony Capps of Whites Creek, TN
One daughter: Natasha Lind Capps (Nathan) Paulsen of Owensboro, KY
Three grandchildren: Kaylee Alexandra Wolfe, Clinton “Clint” Henry Paulsen, II and William Caffrey Paulsen of Owensboro, KY
One sister: Sandra Amelia Capps Reinhardt of Whites Creek, TN
Several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Sven is preceded in death by his father, Searcy Nilsson Capps; his mother, Selma Augusta Stenberg Capps; his grandparents, his mother in-law and father-in-law; his brothers (and wives): Albert Nilsson Capps (Thelma) and Harvey Foster Capps (Jerre); his sisters: Gladys Eleanor Capps Ballard and Dorothy Naomi Capps (Richard) Hartung; one brother-in-law: Karl Gunther Reinhardt; and one nephews: Robert Nilsson Jordan.
Services for Sven are as follows: Visitation will be held at Trent-Dowell Funeral Home on Friday, January 20, 2023 from 3:30 – 6 PM. Sharing of memories will begin at 6 PM.
Visitation will be held at Anderson & Garrett Funeral Home in Joelton, TN on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 11 AM – 2 PM.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at Springhill Cemetery in Nashville, TN at 2:45 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Sven.
The family would like to thank Francis Meyers, Tara Sallee, Janet Danforth, Dana Lake, Hosparus, Care Tenders and Dr. Benjamin Smith for their excellent care of Sven.
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