William C. Chapman

William C. Bill Chapman, age 78, left this world to join his son, Michael with the Lord, on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Bill was born on May 1, 1933, in a log cabin in Waterloo Township, rural Cassville, WI. He attended several country schools and was a 1951 graduate of Cassville High School. He enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean War in July of 1951. While in the Navy he attended an intercommunication class A school. Following the school he served three and one half years of his four years in the Navy as an IC Man on the  aircraft carrier, The Princeton, based on the ocean outside Korea. He was very proud to be a First Class Petty Office, very hard to achieve, in only four years. When his son, Michael, enlisted in the Navy in 1978, he re-enlisted in the Navy Reserves, based in Dubuque, IA. Bill loved his country and had such respect for all branches of the military. In August 1955, he returned to Cassville, to his familys farm. He soon reunited with his high school sweetheart, Sharon Lee Oelke. They were married on April 21, 1956 at St. Charles Church, Cassville, WI. On their wedding day they chose a special place to revisit every year on or around their wedding anniversary to recommit to each other. This was a tradition they carried out for all 55 years of their married life. Their special place was the bridge at Stonefield, Nelson Dewey State Park, Cassville, WI. God blessed their union with seven wonderful children, five daughters and two sons. Bill loved his family and was so proud of all of them and their accomplishments. After a brief time living in Beloit where he worked for Taylor Freezer Company for three years, He and Sharon purchased the family farm outside  Cassville and raised their family there. In addition to farming he worked several years at Rapid Die and Molding in Cassville and over 30 years at Loudspeaker Component Corporation in Lancaster. Besides his family, his greatest joy was playing baseball. The family loved to watch him play. He was a great short-stop most say he was the best in the area. He was chosen for several All Star games in Dubuque. He wasnt a big guy, but he sure could hit the ball. You could count on him to get the job done both in the field and at bat. In August of 2008, Bill and Sharon sold the farm and moved to an apartment in Lancaster. This was a big change for him since he could always find something to do on the farm. In the winter, at the apartment complex, he would get up at 5:00am and clean all the tenants cars off after a snow storm to keep busy and to help out his neighbors. His efforts were greatly appreciated.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Sharon. Daughters, Michele(Wally) Fishnick, Cassville, WI, Jeannie(Jim) Mellon, Oregon, WI, Julie(Jim) Eyermann, Imperial, MO, Mary(Jeff) Glass, Cassville, WI, Jackie(Mike) Bay, St. Louis, MO. Son, James Chapman, San Francisco, CA. a brother, Sylvan (Murph) Chapman, Dubuque, IA. Sisters-in-law, Catherine(Murph) Chapman, Dubuque, IA, Donna Mae(Ken) Radloff, Farmersburg, IA and Kerry(Mike) Podolske, Madison, WI. Also surviving are nine grandsons, three granddaughters and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Michael (twin of Mary) in 1993, his parents, his brother-in-law, Calvin Oelke and sisters-in-law, Marinette Bink Ollsen and Jackie (Chuck) Russell.

Funeral services were held on Friday, May 27, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Cassville with Father William Seipp and Father John Meinholz officiating. Private family burial with military honors was held in the Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery, Cassville. Family and friends called on Friday, May 27, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be offered to Grant County Hospice or the Grant County Cancer Coalition. Martin Funeral Home in Cassville is assisting the family.

Rest well Dad, there must be baseball in Heaven and you will be playing the game on one of Gods teams every day.