Don E. Caplea, age 80, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Residence at Presque Isle in Erie, PA. He was born on July 11, 1945 in Canton, OH, a son of the late Nicholas and Dorothy Woolfe Caplea and Virginia Himes Caplea. Don graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts and his Juris Doctorate(J.D.) from Ohio Northern University.

He enjoyed a long and successful career as an attorney dedicated to serving the residents of Stark County. He was an avid hunter and raised a long line of championship hunting dogs. He also enjoyed training and racing homing pigeons. He was a life-long member of the Canton YMCA and a proud member of the Canton Negro Oldtimers Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Sharyn Lee Caplea, and his sister Laurie Kolberg. He is survived by his children: Sean (Carrie) McKelley of Powell, OH, Don (Penny) Caplea of Fairview, PA, Stacey (Dan) Shank of Parker, CO, Nicholas Caplea of Erie, PA and Michael (Lynn) Caplea of Erie, PA; his 16 loving grandchildren; his 2 great-grandchildren; his siblings: Gay Scherrer, Joseph (Ann) Caplea, Christine (David) Pfister, Jeanne Caplea-Variola, and Jim (Joanne) Caplea; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on the family at the Rossi Family Funeral Home, 730 30th St. N.W. Canton, OH 44709 on Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Memorial services will begin in the funeral home at 12 noon.

 

ROSSI (330) 492-5830

www.rossifuneralhomeinc.com

 

 

 

 

To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Don E. Caplea, please visit our floral store.