The funeral Mass for Vitalis Kapler will be 12:00 Noon on Friday, December 19, 2014 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Rev. Thomas Loomis officiating.  Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00PM on Thursday, December 18, 2014 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.

Vitalis Jerome Kapler took off on his final flight on December 11, 2014.

He was born on May 14, 1927 in Cresco, Iowa to Albert and Mary (Drilling) Kapler.  He attended Cresco High School class of 1945.

He farmed in Cresco until attending A&P Aviation Mechanics School in Winona, Minnesota.  In 1969 he married Dorothy Irwin and lived in Minnesota City, MN.  The couple moved to Cherry Grove, MN and ran Kaps Airplane Shop and worked with Bernard Pietenpol until 1980.  They then moved to Rochester, MN and ran Kap's Grocery and Kitchenettes until 1990.

Vitalis was a member of EAA chapters including Rochester, Winona and Austin, and belonged to many antique and classic aircraft clubs.  Member of the Quiet Birdmen.  He built 27 experimental aircraft and taught yearly technical "How to Build Experimental Aircraft" forums in Broadhead and Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

He is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Kapler of Brooklyn Center, MN and Rebecca Kapler of Rochester; a brother, Joseph Kapler of Dubuque, Iowa; nieces and nephews, David Kapler, Mark Kapler, Mary Blythe, Joseph Kapler II, Diane Erickson, Doug Bromer, Julie Urban, Margaret Manriquez and Michael Urban.  He is also survived by his 2nd wife, Darlene Smith of Rochester.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 28 years Dorothy Kapler, who died in 1997 and siblings, Clara Gillis, Victor Kapler and Rita Kapler.