Milton Kalapach

Milton J. Kalapach, 87, of Lafayette Indiana, passed away as a result of complications from a stroke and dementia at 1:20 PM August 13, 2015 at Rosewalk Village. Milton was born April 9, 1928 in Whiting Indiana to Andrew & Theresa (Lotichy) Kalapach.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Fleming Kalapach, daughter Cindy Kalapach of Indianapolis IN, son Mark Kalapach of Lafayette IN, a grandson Chance Hansell (son of Cindy) of Indianapolis and a sister, Threse Kalapach (George) Desatnick of Whiting Indiana. Preceding him in death were sisters - Jean (Ladd) Zelenke, Marge (John) Zahari, and a brother Andrew (LuAnn) Kalapach.
Milton and Mary Ellen Fleming were married on September 20, 1952 at St Boniface Church in Lafayette Indiana. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary Grade School from 1933 to 1941 and then attended Whiting High School where he graduated in June of 1945.
Milton served in the Army and was stationed in Alaska from 1946 to 1948 as a clerk typist. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering at Purdue University where he graduated. While at Purdue he was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. Later, he also earned a Master's Degree at Ball State University.
He worked at Whitman Barns in Plymouth, MI; at Duncan Electric where he was a Manager of Engineering Department. Milton was Assistant Professor at Purdue, also worked at Virek Supply; Consolidated Industry; ITT in Indianapolis where he was Chief Instructor of Automated Engineering and Technology. When he retired he worked in Lafayette for Enterprise Car Rental.
He was a member of St Boniface Catholic Church in Lafayette IN. Over the years he belonged to the Lafayette Lions Club (he was president in 1963-'64), American Legion, Lafayette Soaring Society, Civil Air Patrol (for which he held a pilot's license), and Lafayette Cloud Jockeys.
Milton was a member of the Czech/Slovak Society of Indiana in 1990's. During a portion of this membership he was president. Other interests were golfing and radio controlled planes. He had two brushes with greatness as a result of flying. First, he took up David Letterman up in a glider when Mr. Letterman was a weather man in Indianapolis and later, he took up Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger when Mr Sullenberger was attending Purdue in 1973.
The visitation will be one hour before the Funeral Mass at St Boniface Catholic Church on Tuesday August 18, 2015, at 10:30 AM, Fr. Mark Walter officiating. The interment will follow at St. Boniface Cemetery with military honors by the US Army and Legion Post 11. Friends may best express sympathy with memorials to either St. Boniface Catholic Church or the Lafayette Lions Club. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com