Keppy made his living "talking" his whole life. Winnipeg's most famous auctioneer talks nostalgically when reflecting upon his life. Keppy's father Max arrived in Winnipeg from Russia in the early 1900's and began a roller coaster life in various businesses. Starting as a watchmaker, he was invited by his neighbour Mr. Segal to fix the family clock. Before long he was spending "time" with Mr. Segal's niece, Rose who was visiting from Iowa.

Seven children later, four boys and three girls, Keppy remembers growing up on Machray Avenue east of Main. As if it was yesterday Keppy could list which Jewish family lived at which house. His reflections are of a simpler time with simpler pleasures. Keppy speaks proudly about his parents. With the support of ten friends at twenty dollars a friend Max Steiman bought Carter's auctioneer business and the family continued there until 2000. Working with his father Keppy saw both the pride and toughness of his orthodox father. Through all the ups and downs of business Keppy recalls how his mother maintained a house full of love and compassion and a close relationship with her husband.

As a youngster growing up in the north-end Keppy attended Champlain, Machray and St. John's for his education. Hebrew lessons and maftir were taught by a rabbi in the home. His bar mitzvah was held at the Rosh Pina Synagogue on Henry Avenue followed by honey cake, whiskey and out to play - the fountain pen came much later. 2002 saw Keppy have his second Bar Mitzvah at the newly named Etz Chayim.

In 1942, after a stint in the air force where he crashed an airplane, Keppy married Doris Minuk. She was the eldest daughter of Lily and Mandel, who owned Minuk's Department Store on Dufferin Avenue. Lily and Mandel knew each other in Russia but arrived in Canada separately, eventually reconnected and married in Winnipeg. Doris, who was one of the seven Minuk children, has devoted her life to family. As a teenager she worked in the family business and as a newlywed she assisted Keppy in the business. First living on Kennedy Street, Keppy and Doris eventually bought a home on Scotia Street where they raised their three children, Karen, Gerald and David. With Keppy working long hours, Doris focused on the role of parenting and they are both proud of the results. All their children have a strong sense of Judaism and both Keppy and Doris feel that it is a result of how they were raised and the emphasis the parents placed on being involved in the Jewish community. Living close to the Rosh Pina assisted in this community involvement and Doris made sure that she was always part of whatever was going on in the synagogue -committee work or fundraising.

Today their children live in various parts of the United States to which the traveling grandparents visit regularly to maintain a close relationship with their children and seven grandchildren. Keppy credits his wife for instilling an involved sense of Judaism in all of their children. His decision to purchase a family cottage in Gimli, when he couldn't afford it, was one of Keppy's smartest family cohesion moves. Each year on a regular basis the family returns to spend some time together at the family cottage that Doris always keeps filled with "food and fun". Doris has also been the catalyst in maintaining a close knit family of her siblings. This emphasis on closeness has kept six out of the seven Minuk brothers and sisters in Winnipeg.

Professionally Keppy is proud of his work. Although many people do it, he is the only accredited appraiser in all of Manitoba as indicated by his CAPP designation, Certified Appraiser of Personal Property. If he is going to do it, he wants to do it right - that has been Keppy's motto. Keppy feels that his life as an auctioneer was a means of helping people to dispose of possessions, helping them to solve problems and then allowing them to move on with their life. As an auctioneer Keppy was often called upon to represent various charities at their fundraising events. Due to his tireless efforts he has been awarded a certificate as an "extraordinary citizen of Winnipeg".

From a Jewish community perspective, Keppy and Doris are concerned about the pace of change and the degree of acceptance of change in the customs and practices of traditional Judaism. Although not a Lubavitcher himself, he respects their work as they actively promote traditional Judaism. Keppy's nickname came from his mother who said, "he had a good kop", (head). This smartness that was identified in Keppy by his mother allows him to be sure of only two things and that is that he was born a Jew and he will die a Jew.