OBITUARY FROM POST-TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 18, 2006:

JOHN C. SAPPER Hobart, Indiana Age 84, a lifelong Hobart resident, passed away at VNA Hospice, Valparaiso, on Saturday, September 16, 2006. He enjoyed spending his winters in Spring Hill, FL. He spent 63 years in farming and greenhouses, founding Sapper's Market in 1943. March of this year marked the 100th anniversary of the Sapper family farm. John was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he belonged to the Men's Club and played softball on the church team. He was a member of the Lions Club and served on the Lake County 4-H Club Committee. He was an entrepreneur and introduced the "indoor Christmas tree room." He was also known as the "Hobart sweet corn king" and raised the first bi-color sweet corn available in the area. He was foster parent to nine children, an avid reader, and lived a Christian life. John was a mentor to young people who he employed over the years, teaching them strong work ethics by example.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Mabel Sapper, sister, Antoinette Ewen, and brother, Ernest Sapper. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances Sapper of Hobart; and his son, Richard A. (Evelyn) Sapper of Hobart; daughters, Mary Beth (Thomas) Parry of Crown Point, and Janet (Michael) Kraynik of Hobart; 7 grandchildren, Alan (Heather) Sapper of Merrillville, Jennifer Boyd (Billy Mack) of Hobart, Fredrick Sapper of Hobart, Christine and Jon Parry, both of Crown Point, Jessica and Jonathon Kraynik, both of Hobart; 2 great-grandchildren; brother, Charles (Dorothy) Sapper of Hobart.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 900 Luther Dr., Hobart, Rev. Gary Nagy officiating. John will lie in state at the church on Wednesday morning from 9 - 10 a.m. Interment in Chapel Lawn Cemetery, Schererville. Friends are invited to meet with the family at Burns Funeral Home, 701 E. 7th St., Hobart, on Tuesday from 2 - 8 p.m. Contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or the VNA Hospice, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.

This information was obtained from: http://legacy.post-trib.com/obituaries/posttribune/obituary.aspx?n=john-c-sapper&pid=19281751&fhid=4990.