Former Altoona resident Donald “Hezzy” Kappus was passionate about two things: Studebakers and playing the tuba. By the time of his death in December 2006, Hezzy had shared his love for music with the Chippewa Valley by playing tuba in the Eau Claire Municipal Band for over 60 years. On Thursday, July 24, the band will remember him with a memorial concert at Eau Claire’s Owen Park.

   Hezzy joined the band in his high-school years, playing for Donald “Sarge” Boyd. Hezzy also played with the Owen-Withee Polka Choir and other local bands.
   “He was really good at it,” said his wife, Ruth, who met Hezzy at one of his performances. Ruth explained that the nickname Hezzy has been with him since he participated in the Boy Scouts; it signifies  a member of the Hoosier Hot Shots, who are often credited with the formation of Midwestern jazz.
   Ken Kiesow, a fellow band member, played tuba alongside Hezzy for 22 years.
   “It’s not as funny back in the tuba section,” Kiesow said of Hezzy’s absence. “He used to tell a lot of jokes.”
   Hezzy began a tradition of joining great music with classic cars at the band’s Thursday night concerts.
   “Because cars and (the) tuba went so well together for him, he just felt anytime you could bring the cars, that would be an event,” explained Hezzy’s daughter Sally. 
   Hezzy’s love of antique cars was inherited; father John Fred Kappus owned the Studebaker dealership in Eau Claire.
   After Hezzy passed away, his daughters wanted to commemorate the musician. The Kappus family sponsored a memorial concert for Hezzy that year, as well as orchestrating a Classic Car Show to precede last year’s concert.
   This year, the tradition will carry on with a solo performance on the tuba by Kiesow, while Ruth and other car collectors display some of Hezzy’s Studebakers and other antique cars. The music will begin at 7:30 p.m.; in the event of rain, the concert will begin at 8:00 p.m. in the Masonic Temple at 616 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire.