Personal Biography

Michael Kapper was born on May 6, 1975, in Logan, Ohio, and he was adopted by Robert and Mary Jo Kapper a short while later—he went to live with them on May 15, 1975. Mike was baptized on June 1, 1975 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Logan, by Rev. George R. Smith.

Growing up, Mike lived lots of different places. It was a pattern established in his childhood—he lived in twelve places before he graduated from high school—and one he has continued as an adult, having lived in ten different places since high school.

Mike was fortunate, though, that his middle school and high school years were fairly settled. From eighth grade until graduation, he attended Central Christian High School in Kidron, Ohio. He graduated, in 1993, with 42 classmates, and remains close to a several of his high school friends today. Never having really had long-term friendships as a child, Mike still sometimes is amazed when he thinks that some of his best friends now have been among his best friends for going on 20 years. Amazed and fortunate.

Mike's religious faith has always been a large part of his life. For most of that time, he has been involved in the Lutheran Church. He received First Communion at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Orrville, Ohio, in 1986, and was confirmed in that congregation, by Rev. Walt Jordan, in 1988. In the 1990s, though, Mike, along with his parents and sister, began attending Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron, and became members there. Mike was active in this congregation until 1998 when he joined Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn, Ohio, returning to the roots of his faith heritage. Since 2005, Mike has been a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, and since he moved to North Carolina, he has attended Grace Lutheran in Boone.

Mike has one sister, Morgon Bobot, who lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Steve, and their two kids. Morgon is a licensed practical nurse, and Steve is a civil engineer—the kids go to school, and are involved in more activities than “Uncle” Mike can keep track of—or even believe.

Mike's parents live in Wooster, Ohio, where Mary Jo manages a Christian bookstore, and Bob seems to be busier in retirement than he ever was when he was working. The fact that the familiy now forms a triangle 400 miles on a side has been difficult for the past couple of months, but everyone seems to be getting used to it—thank God for Verizon wireless and their unlimited IN calling!

Beyond this, Mike has just begun a new position as Assistant Professor of English and Rhetoric Coördinator at Lees-McRae College, in Banner Elk, North Carolina, and has just bought a house in the mountains of western NC (the address is Elk Park, but it's really nowhere near), where he lives with his little gray cat, who keeps him company and attacks his toes in the middle of the night.