Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KERPER, Angelo
KERPER, Angelo. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, July 3, 1981). Kerper attended COLUMBIA COLLEGE where he was considered the second best tennis player on the 1933 team. (1) His musical talents were displayed as part of a group of singers at college social events. (2)
Upon graduation, he became an executive with the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY. He was also a lifetime member of the Musicians Union and the leader of Ang Kerper and His Orchestra, a nine member group popular with dancers in the tri-states. (3)
Kerper served on Governor Robert Ray's Council of Education. In 1971 the the committee issued a controversial report that concluded that no more state aid should go to Iowa's parochial schools. Kerper was the co-author of a minority committee report that claimed parts of the committee report were "inaccurate and erroneous statements, unsupported assumptions and economic judgments. (4) He concluded that Governor Ray's budget message made some provision for aid to students in non-public school and had a clearer idea of the total problem. (5)
He was president of the Loras Alumni Association, DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY 660 CLUB, and the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT board of education.
A much less known story of Angelo Kerper and his family involve his son, Harry Thomas Kerper. On May 12, 1947 when the child, the fifth child in the family, was five and one-half months old, doctors found a congenital enlargement of his heart. Their collective decision which was conveyed to his parents was that the only hope for young Harry was an operation when he reached the age of three years of age. He was not expected to live beyond the age of four years if nothing was done. A second x-ray on April 1, 1949 indicated that the enlargement of the heart had increased.
Recognizing the seriousness of the proposed operation, Angelo and Ruth Kerper and their entire family decided to offer prayers to the Shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec, Canada. Arriving there on August 12, 1949 they spent three days attending all services and Masses and receiving Holy Communion every day. The children joined their parents in fasting and ascending the Scala Santa on their knees. They then returned to Dubuque.
On October 18, 1949, two months after the pilgrimage and four days before Harry was to reach the age of three, another X-ray was taken without telling the doctors of the pilgrimage. According to Mrs. Kerper, the doctor's report was "It seems that the most unexplainable change has taken place in this heart. It has assumed a normal contour, and, of course, no operation is now warranted."
Harry was taken in February 1950 to the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Doctors there reviewed the x-rays the parents brought and confirmed that the heart had returned to its normal size. The only trace of his former condition was a slight heart murmur which would be of no consequence.
In June, 1957 the Kerpers brought their entire family back to the shrine. Dr. Roland Desmeules of the HŎpital Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec wrote,"This last film shows an amazing change, and all the scientific knowledge I may have is baffled by what I see in this third x-ray. October 8, 1957 (6)
Upon returning to Dubuque, the Kerpers had a small monument to Ste. Anne constructed in their backyard. When the city wanted land to a road, the Kerpers donated it as long as the road was named St. Anne. In later years, a room was added to the back of the home for the father of Thomas Bitter and the monument had to be removed. It was reconstructed in a slightly different appearance further back in the yard. (7)
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Source:
1. "300 Dubuque Net Players Start C.Y.O. Tourney," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, July 23, 1933, p. 14
2. "Columbia Students Are Entertained at Halloween Party," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, November 1, 1931, p. 23
3. "Young Maestro," Telegraph-Herald, February 10, 1933, p. 10
4. Walters, Steve, "Report Critical of Parochial Aid is Hit," Telegraph-Herald, February 21, 1971, p. 17
5. Smith, Peter, "Dubuquer Dissents on Non-Public School Aid," Telegraph-Herald, February 12, 1971, p. 8
6. Lefebvre, Eugéne, A Land of Miracles for Three Hundred Years, Ste. Anne de Beaupré, 1958, pgs,111-112
7. Pasnik, Colleen