Emmett Milton Capper II
Emmett Milton Capper II, age 85 of West Bloomfield, passed away February 20, 2024.
He was born in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia to Emmett and Lottie (nee: Unger) Capper.
Born and raised in his hometown, Emmett was a graduate of Berkeley Springs High School. Shortly after graduation, he met the love of his life, Gloria Roach; they married in 1960 at the First United Methodist Church, steps from Emmett’s childhood home.
Emmett was drafted during the Cuban Missile Crisis and served in the United States Army; stationed in Anchorage, Alaska during the infamous Good Friday Earthquake of 1963, when Emmett was a news announcer for Armed Forces Radio and TV. Emmett was most recognized as Detroit’s WIBK Channel 2 Weatherman and Weekend Anchor from the 1970s and 1980s, a booth announcer for more than two decades and the voice of “It’s 8 O’Clock, Do You Know Where Your Children Are?” Never officially retiring, Emmett was a sought-after voiceover talent and a successful model for both local and national print, a lifetime member of AFTRA/SAG, and a commercial and industrial film actor with an extensive list of credits to his name.
He and Gloria were proprietors of several businesses: Inner Ad, his in-store advertising agency; pizza and donuts shops in the Metro Detroit area; owner and operator of radio station WDHC in West Virginia, and a pioneer in the cellular industry – creating Cellular Ventures and Cellular One with towers in West Virginia and Iowa, and building cellular and broadband for his hometown of Berkeley Springs with his internet provider, SkyWeb.
From childhood through adulthood – a myriad of hobbies and passions filled Emmett’s years, which garnered him a full and lively life – very well lived, passing those ideals onto his children.
Although he has left a wonderful legacy for family and friends to cherish, his presence will be deeply missed.
Emmett is survived by his wife, Gloria of 64 magical years; loving and devoted father to Lisa and (Kenneth) Skinner, Lori L. Capper, Christopher Emmett Capper, and proud granddaddy of Alexis Skinner. Dear brother of Ronald Capper and Steve Compton.
Emmett is preceded in death by his father and mother, Emmett Milton Capper and Lottie Compton, his nephew Kevin Capper, brother Lynn Compton, and sister Debbie Cohill.
Arrangements entrusted to McCabe Funeral Home, Farmington Hills.
Memorial donations in Emmett’s name may be directed to the Veterans Administration. www.mccabefuneral home.com.