Tappe was a native and lifelong resident of Quincy, Illinois, where he attended high school and Quincy University.
tˈæp wʌzɐ nˈeɪɾɪv ænd lˈaɪflɔŋ ɹˈɛzᵻdənt ʌv kwˈɪnsi, ˌɪlənˈɔɪ, wˌɛɹ hiː ɐtˈɛndᵻd hˈaɪ skˈuːl ænd kwˈɪnsi jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi.