John Kalman Reppa

John Kalman "J.K." Reppa (February 1, 1886 – September 20, 1931) was a Slovak-American politician and entrepreneur in Lake County, Indiana who played a significant role in the early 20th century political, banking, real estate, and insurance industries of East Chicago. Reppa was twice elected city comptroller of East Chicago, and was a two-time candidate for mayor on the Republican ticket.*The Times*, "J.K. Reppa is Called by Death Sunday," September 21, 1931, p. 1-15.
==Early Life and Education==
John Kalman Reppa was born on February 1, 1886, in Austria-Hungary, the son of John and Anna Reppa. He received his early education in Austria, where his father worked as a school teacher. At the age of ten, Reppa began a five-year course at a school in Budapest . At fifteen, he was admitted to the State Preparandum of Znio, Austria, where he earned his diploma as a professor of mathematics in 1904. After emigrating to the United States, he further pursued his education at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. His family relocated to Whiting, Indiana in 1903.Cannon, Thomas H., Loring, H.H., and Robb, Charles J. (1927). History of The Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana, Volume 2. Biographical Publishing Company. p. 124-125. Reppa was fluent in Slovak, Hungarian, and English.
==Banking Career and Business Achievements==
At the age of seventeen, Reppa began his career at the First National Bank of Whiting. He later worked for the First National Bank of East Chicago before accepting a position as a teller at the Citizens' Trust and Savings Bank. By 1910, he became the cashier of the First Calumet Trust and Savings Bank, a position he held after the bank’s organization. While working in finance, Reppa also pursued a law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1914.
In 1914, Reppa organized the Twin City Savings and Loan Association, where he served as secretary, a role he continued throughout his career. By 1919, the association's assets had grown to approximately $350,000.*The Times*, "Well-Known Financier Gets New Honors," April 9, 1919, p. 3. In addition, Reppa became the city comptroller of East Chicago and the secretary of the Twin City Building and Loan Association.
In 1919, he organized the Twin City Building and Loan Association, which eventually had assets exceeding $600,000. His involvement in real estate extended to modern residential developments, including an apartment house valued at more than $70,000. Reppa's financial influence grew with the establishment of the First Securities Company in 1920, with a capital of $100,000.
==Political Career==
Reppa was heavily involved in politics, particularly in East Chicago. He was active in the Republican Party for nearly 20 years, playing a vital role in its local campaigns. He twice ran for mayor on the Republican ticket in the elections of 1917 and 1921. During his campaigns, Reppa acquired a sizable following, as well as fierce political rivals. His platform focused on industrial growth, law, and governance aligned with public welfare.*The Times*, "Reppa Has a Great Meeting," April 19, 1921, p. 2.
==Personal Life==
John Kalman Reppa married Verna B. Benyovitz (Benovic) on September 5, 1910, and together they had nine children: Kalman, Vernon, John, Andrew, Jerry, David, Anna, Marie, and Joan. Reppa was a member of the Foresters, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Church, and was deeply involved in civic activities across the Twin Cities. The family also maintained a summer home at Tippecanoe Lake.
==Death and Burial==
John Kalman Reppa passed away on September 20, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 45. He had been ill for two years and passed away after being transferred from his summer home at Tippecanoe Lake to the Passavant Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was buried in Gary, Indiana.*The Times*, "John K. Reppa Obituary", September 21, 1931, p. 4."John Kalman Reppa (1886-1931)." Find A Grave. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232646061/john-kalman-reppa).
Category:1931 deaths
Category:1886 births
Category:American politicians
Category:American people
Category:Entrepreneurs