Max Kappenberger

Private • U.S. Army • Serial 33806357

104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division

Entered service from New Jersey • Died November 25, 1944

Buried at Beverly National Cemetery, Plot H RES88/87, Beverly, New Jersey

Awards: Purple Heart

Private Max A. Kappenberger was born October 12, 1913, to Adolph and Anna Kappenberger in Zurich, Switzerland. Adolph Kappenberger came to America and settled in Philadelphia PA, then sent for his wife and infant son. Max and Anna Kappenberger arrived in Philadelphia aboard the SS Rugia, sailing out of Hamburg, on May 15, 1914, after 31 days at sea. The Kappenberger family lived at 3719 North 5th Street in Philadelphia at that time.

The Kappenbergers remained in Philadelphia through at least April of 1930. Two sons, Adolph Jr. and Ernest, were born to the family. When the census was taken in April of 1930, the family owned a home at 3943 Russ Street in Philadelphia. Adolph Sr. was working as a welder at a steel company, while Max Kappenberger had left school to work as a salesman in a produce store. He was still living in Philadelphia in the mid-1930s when he applied for a Social Security card. At some point he married, and with wife Magdalen, moved to 210 State Street in what is now Cherry Hill NJ.

Inducted into the United States Army on November 26, 1943, in Philadelphia, he was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division. Private Kappenberger was killed in action on November 25, 1944, in fighting west of the Saar Canal. His body was returned home after the war, and on June 8, 1949, he was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ. He now rests next to his wife Magdalen, who survived him until 1983. He was also survived by his parents and two younger brothers, Adolph and Ernest.