Late repairman's generosity benefits nine Catholic ministries

Published: 2006-07-14

INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- When he was in his 90s, Rudolph Gasper still drove his car, enjoyed bowling and even climbed on the roof of his house to fix it. Yet what stunned people even more was a gift he made -- a gift that wasn't revealed until the longtime sewing machine repairman died, three months after he celebrated his 100th birthday. As his will was being read, it became clear that Gasper, a man who grew up on an Indiana farm, had saved nearly $1 million during his lifetime. Another point also became evident. The quiet devotion that the father of three had shown to his Catholic faith in his lifetime was something he wanted to continue beyond his death. While 40 percent of his estate was to be divided among his children, Gasper also wanted 60 percent of his $993,508.76 distributed among nine Catholic institutions and charities.

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