Rev. Giles A. Klapperich, O.P., 94, died on December 19, 2015 in Chicago, IL. Father Klapperich was born on April 14, 1921 in Conde, SD to Edward and Deneige (LaBrie) Klapperich. He was one of sixteen children. He was preceded in death by all his siblings. He graduated from high school in 1940 from Conde High School in Conde, SD. Father Klapperich was a member of the Dominicans, Order of Preachers, Province of St. Albert the Great, based in Chicago. He entered the Dominican Novitiate on September 17, 1946, making first profession on September 18, 1947 at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois. He continued his studies for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1953 at St. Rose of Lima Priory in Dubuque, IA. Father Klapperich served from 1954 to 1962 as an assistant pastor at parishes in Louisiana and Oklahoma and chaplain at the Dominican Motherhouse in Sinsinawa, WI. He then was assigned to the missions in Nigeria where he served from 1962 to 1978. Father Klapperich was a musician and started a youth choir in Nigeria, which continues today and is named in his honor. Returning to the United States in 1978 he again served in a variety of places as assistant pastor and chaplain in Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado. In 2002 he was on limited service at St. Dominic Priory in Denver, CO until he moved to St. Pius V Priory, the Dominican assisted living community in Chicago in 2005. He relocated to Resurrection Life Center in 2014 for 24 hour care. He died peacefully at Resurrection Life Center. Services will be held at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, IL on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00AM preceded by Sung Morning Prayer at 9:00AM.
Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Dec. 21, 2015