John Louis "Jack" Chapman
Marriages
Barbara "Bobbie" Donaghy - December 16, 1945
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - May 11, 2012
John L. Chapman, 92, Grand Junction, died May 9, 2012, at
Hospice Care Center.
Services are pending with Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Mr. Chapman was a chemical engineer.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara “Bobbie;” one son, David
of Denver; one daughter, Carol Bergman of Grand Junction; five
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western
Colorado, 3090B North 12th St., Unit B, Grand Junction 81506 or to
the American Diabetes Association.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3 D Obituary - June 24, 2012
John Louis Chapman, 92, known
to some as Jack, passed away at
Hospice on May 9, 2012, from
pancreatic cancer. He was born on
May 6, 1920, to Lou Iva Mae
Wonsetler and Verni Jay Chapman
in Schenectady, New York.
As a teen, he spent two years at
Fresnal Ranch School in Arizona,
where his love for adventure and
the West began. After graduating from high school in Schenectady
in 1939, he attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs where
he claimed he “was smitten” by Barbara (Bobbie) Donaghy.
To get the coursework he needed, John transferred to the University
of Missouri from where he graduated in 1943, with a degree in
chemical engineering. He worked on the Manhattan Project in
Tonawanda, New York processing uranium ore from the Belgian
Congo. He also was the Department Engineer in charge of designing
a plant for producing P-10, a special polymer needed at Oak
Ridge. He reunited with Bobbie and they were married amidst a
historical blizzard in Buffalo, New York on December 16, 1945.
And so, a beautiful life-long adventure and partnership began.
After living in Buffalo, Charleston, West Virginia, and Cleveland,
John and Bobbie moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where they
lived for 22 years, raising three children, Dave, Jim and Carol. John
worked for four years as a uranium buyer for the Atomic Energy
Commission, then consulted for numerous companies before striking
out on his own prospecting. Later, he went into business with
George Morehouse forming the Chapman and Morehouse Mining
Company. They prospected for uranium, copper, silver and gold and
mined in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona. Later, he worked
for Stearns-Rogers as the Resident Engineer constructing a copper
mill in Morenci, Arizona. His expertise as a consultant in uranium
mining and processing was sought by individuals and companies
over the years and he continued his interest in prospecting and mining
throughout his life.
Water, desert and mountains were always part of John and
Bobbie’s lives and they enjoyed boating, especially on Lake Powell,
Flathead Lake and Lake MacDonald, stream and lake fishing and
travelling in the West. He grew beautiful geraniums, roses and tomatoes.
An engineer always, John enjoyed designing and building
innovative home projects. He retired to Green Valley, Arizona, not
far from the ranch of his youth, where they lived for 20 years. In
2001, they moved back “home” to Grand Junction.
John was involved in planning development issues and was a
member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and a local
group of miners known as RAMS.
John is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Walthour, and
son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Maureen Chapman. He is survived
by his wife of 66 years, Bobbie Chapman; his son, David
(Kris) Chapman of Denver and his daughter, Carol (Walt) Bergman
of Grand Junction. He also has five grandsons, Ryan, Ben and
Jonathan (Jaimie) Chapman and Brett and Eric Bergman and three
great-grandchildren, A.J., Grace and Emma. He will be missed.
John leaves lessons of love and devotion to family, courage to embrace
new ventures, independence, self-reliance, resourcefulness,
and an adventuresome spirit. He was both intelligent and wise and
appreciated life-long learning and a strong work ethic. The greatest
lesson he leaves is what it truly means to be in a committed marriage,
devoted to, respecting and loving his best friend and wife,
Bobbie.
A service to celebrate his life will be held June 30, 2012, at 11:00
a.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand
Junction, Colorado 81505. John was a true gentleman of great integrity
who respected and cared deeply for others. In lieu of flowers,
please consider making a contribution to Hospice and Palliative
Care of Western Colorado at 3090 North 12th Street, Unit B, Grand
Junction, Colorado 81506 or the American Diabetes Association at
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22311.
