Kappen, Albert J. 1870 - 1946

KAPPEN

Posted By: Judy Holthaus (email)
Date: 2/2/2008 at 19:02:15

A. J. Kappen Died Sunday at His Home - Prominent Citizen of Community passes -
Death early Sunday morning claimed one of Guttenberg's best informed citizens on early history of the town. Albert J. Kappen 75, operator of the oldest furnature store in Clayton County. Mr. Kappen died at his home here at 3:00 a.m. Sunday, April 14, 1946, following an illness of about six months.

An Old Business - Almost since the organization of the town, the name of Kappen had been a part of the business life of the community. The Clemens Kappen business was founded by the father of A. J. Kappen shortly after he came to Guttenberg from Westphalia in 1855 and entered the cabinet making business.

Mr. Kappen was born in Guttenberg on July 6, 1870, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens Kappen. He received his early education in the parochial school and public school here and worked in a general store. Later he attended college at St. Paul, Minnesota, returning to Guttenberg in 1909, and completing a course in embalming at Des Moines.

Served in Offices - For many years Mr. Kappen was active in community affairs and served as a member of the town council as town clerk. For 23 years he was Jefferson township clerk and in 1900 he secured original landscape drawings for the then proposed Ingleside park from a friend, Martin Keller, a New York landscape arthitect.
Mr. Kappen is survived by three sisters, Thresa, Florentine, and Martha, and a brother, Hubert of Guttenberg, as well as two nieces,. One brother Clemens Jr. died August 17, 1924.

The Guttenberg Press.