7
2023 La Crosse Loggers Baseball There ’ s No Place Like Copeland
Dan Kapanke Team Owner
Dan was born and raised on a small dairy farm in nearby Coon Valley , Wisconsin where he developed a love for the game of baseball . As a young boy , Dan loved to watch and play baseball . Believe it or not , in the middle of school , Dan and his friends skipped their classes to watch the 1960 Yankees vs . Pirates World Series Game 7 . In addition to playing and watching the game , he coached youth baseball in the La Crosse area for fifteen years . Knowing that baseball has long been a fixture and passion to the people of La Crosse , Kapanke and his wife Ruth turned dreams into reality when they decided to bring the La Crosse Loggers to Copeland Park in 2003 .
Being a UW-La Crosse graduate in Economics and Political Science , Dan became heavily involved in local politics and is well-known throughout the community . Dan was elected to the State Senate in November of 2004 and represented the 32nd District in Wisconsin until 2011 . Along with his involvement in the political realm , Dan has over thirty years of experience in the agriculture business . You can find Dan throughout Copeland Park during Logger ’ s home games , taking in the experience with fans and tossing peanuts into the stands . The love of Dan ’ s life , Ruth , has put up with Dan for fifty years ! Dan and Ruth have a family of four children and twelve grandchildren .
Ruth Kapanke
Team Owner
Ruth has been Dan ’ s life partner for fifty years and is happy to participate in all things “ Loggers .” Her biggest joy and privilege is training and working with our staff . As a staff developer , her main goal is to ensure that we treat others the way we would want to be treated .
Ruth recently retired from a very rewarding career in nursing , which has allowed her more free time to spend with her twelve grandchildren ! She loves to read and , along with Logger Dog , was instrumental in the creation of Logger Dog ’ s Reading Incentive Program . As the program grows , she hopes kids will develop a deep love for reading . With the couple ’ s four children , their spouses and grandkids all close by , life is busy and fulfilling for Ruth and Dan .
7