Dr. Max O. Kappler Jr.

1933 - 2018

Dr. Max O.
Kappler Jr.
PORT EWEN- On this day Dec. 30, 2018 at 11 P.M., we lost a wonderful man, Dr. Max O. Kappler, Jr., to this horrible disease of cancer. He was 85.
Dr. Kappler (pop as I called him) was born on Aug. 14, 1933. He was born to the late Max O. Kappler, Sr., and Ms. Anna (Jacobs) Kappler. Max grew up in Astoria, N.Y. He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church also located in Astoria, N.Y. Max attended and graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School. After high school he joined the Army and was stationed in Korea. During this time, Max's mom became ill and ended dying at the young age of 49. Max had discussed often with his mom about what he wanted to do after the service and was indecisive on a good career choice, so his mother expressed how much the Chiropractor had helped her. That advice he took to heart and after leaving the service he went on to study at The New York School of Chiropractor and from there on he became the great Chiropractor that he was known to be during his practicing years.
Max married his first wife Ms. Emma (Kopp) and had two children, Richard Kappler and Karen Kappler. In the early 1960's, Max moved his young family to Kingston where he bought a home and started his first practice which was located on Maiden Lane. His practice started to really take off and he decided to invest in a larger and more efficient building to handle the growth of his practice. The building he purchased was located on Fair St., in Kingston as well.
In the mid-seventies Max and Emma went their separate ways and in 1981 Max married Shirley Spinnenweber. Years later Max extended his practice and bought another building on the northern end of Washington Ave., where "Markel's T.V." was located in which he totally refurbished the whole building and continued with his successful business. In the early 1990's, Max developed a severe case of psoriasis that took over his hands and loss of his nails. They were so raw, he was unable to continue to work. He saw so many Doctors, one of which said he needed to retire if he wanted to help his hands. They suggested warm weather areas and also salt water. They loved vacationing in the Virgin Islands and did so for many years. When it came down to making a permanent choice, they decided to sell everything and move to Ocala, Fla. They continued their wonderful life for the next 24 years. After the death of his wife and our mom, Max was extremely hurting with his loss. This past March he made a decision to move back to this area and resided with us (Dan and Sue) for the remainder of his life. Sadly, that came too fast and suddenly. He was adjusting well moving back and was looking forward to many more years, but cancer does not always work that way.
Max (Pop) leaves behind a son, Richard Kappler (Lisa), who also became a Chiropractor and lives in Saugerties, N.Y.; a daughter, Karen Kappler (Roosevelt) from Boston, Mass. Richard and Lisa Kappler have five children and those children have given pop six great-grandchildren. From Max's second marriage, his wife had three children, Janet, Sue, and Jack. With that it also added more grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Max was predeceased by his parents and a stepmother Maria. Max has a great sister, Norma, and a wonderful brother-in-law, Walter Strubel, who live in Long Island. They have two daughters and a son who also had children.
Max wasn't known for sharing a lot, but he loved his family, his children, his nieces and nephews, as well as his cousins. After all it was family!
Upon Max's wishes, there will be no calling hours or burial services. He will be cremated and his ashes will be blended with his deceased wife's ashes.
Cremation service arrangements are placed under the care of the Gilpatric-VanVliet Funeral Home, 339 Broadway, Ulster Park, Town of Esopus. WWW.GVVFH.COM