Edward Kapper
Date of Death: 07/24/2012

Of Mequon, formerly of Shorewood. Reunited with the love of his life, Beatrice (nee Rabinovitz) on July 24, 2012 at the age of 91.

Loving father of Howard (Brenda) Kapper, Miles (Robin) Kapper, Sally Ann (David) Moskol, and Charles Kapper. Proud grandfather of Joseph M.B. Kapper, Annie and Samantha Moskol, and Victoria Kapper. Predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Eva Kaplan and brother Isadore (Rose) Kaplan. Survived by sister-in-law Helen (the late Jerome) Sher, loving nieces and nephews and many friends.

Edward was a New York Life agent in the Milwaukee General Office for 55 years, qualifying for numerous industry awards & sales records. He loved his career and mentored young agents in the business. Edward and Beatrice’s lives were greatly enriched by deep friendships with Ed’s clients and fellow agents.

Ed and Bea together served the Milwaukee Jewish community in leadership positions at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, Jewish National Fund, ORT and other organizations.

Raised in Chicago, Ed was an extremely creative spirit and sentimental soul. He was a writer, poet and photographer. As a teenager, he worked with his beloved photographer uncle, Izzy Weinstein on photo shoots, and delivered supplies to Margaret Bourke-White’s studio, among others, on Michigan Avenue. He also fondly recalled working as a young man at Brentano’s Bookstore.

He developed an appreciation for life larger than one’s self, and became passionate about airplanes & flight. He got his pilot’s license at age 17 out of North Shore Flying Club of Chicago. His quiet immigrant parents and studious older brother were terrified of Edward’s Excellent Adventures. Papa Joe couldn’t understand how planes stayed in the air.  Ma (Eva) took one airplane ride with her son and that was enough. But Edward could never get enough of the beauty and experience of flight. His favorite plane to fly was the Piper Cub J3, a burst of bright yellow in blue skies. He attended Aeronautical University of Illinois and designed a “Pusher” Aircraft. Cirrus Air Corporation purchased the design, further refined it and produced 6 aircraft. Edward worked for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, CA as part of the flight test crew for B-24’s, PBY’s and PBM’s. He then served as a Flight Cadet in the Army Air Corps, and married Beatrice in 1945 on a furlough.

Post wartime, Ed joined the Experimental Aircraft Association, and the family began attending the earliest Fly-Ins in Rockford, IL. For many years, he worked the flight line at the EAA Oshkosh Fly-Ins and then became a docent at the EAA’s Pioneer Airport.

Since boats were “cheaper than airplanes”, Ed led his family onto Lake Michigan, Lake Delton, Lac La Belle, Fowler Lake and other Wisconsin water treasures in motorboats and sailboats of all sizes (but never too big). Ed loved surprising his devoted and most tolerant Beatrice with new boats. He was a member of the South Shore Yacht Club and the Milwaukee Yacht Club for over 30 years.

Ed was also a dog lover and never let the family be without a pooch for long. He was Best Buddy for the past 13 years to “Midnight” Moskol who snuggled with Grampa Ed days before Ed died.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ellen Danto-Nocton, Geriatrician with Aurora-Sinai, for her brilliant management of Edward’s healthcare needs these past 6 years. We are most grateful to the staff of the Sarah Chudnow Community, Mequon, WI for their friendship and care since Ed and Bea moved into the building in 2005. We especially thank Deb Johnson, RN, Director of Assisted Living, where Ed lived since Bea passed away in 2008. We also thank private caregivers Sophia and Tujuana for their attention to Ed in the past year.

Edward loved life. He always had a twinkle in his blue eyes and a joke at the tip of his tongue. His frail heart defied the odds, perhaps because it grew even larger with love, humor and appreciation as he aged.

Memorial contributions to Jewish National Fund or EAA in Oshkosh, WI or charity of your choice.

Funeral services Friday, July 27th at 1:00 PM at Congregation Sinai, 8223 North Port Washington Road, Fox Point.

Burial to follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, 166 South Hawley Court, Milwaukee.

Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home
4750 North Santa Monica Boulevard     (414) 964-3111
 

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