Don Howard Chapman

Not wanting to give up his Friday night trips to the ER, or his weekly stumblebum trips and falls out of his wheelchair, or just “life in this crazy world”; Don was determined to “endure to the end”. He kept on fighting through, but on December 6th, watching the snow fall, sucking down a few spoonfuls of his favorite Cream of Mushroom Soup and a few sips of his favorite Vanilla Milkshake, he just grew quiet, rolled over and dozed off. December 8th, his dream deepened just enough that the Chasm was comfortably crossed and he found his Beloved Violet, and his long awaiting parents and siblings and life began again. Don Howard Chapman arrived in Oakland, California on Monday, December 6, 1937, to take the Caboose position in the family train of Vernon Lorenzo and Sylvia Corinda Clapp Chapman. He was the youngest of seven children, and probably the most playful. Don was always full of mischief and a lot of fun to be around. He loved to sing and dance and had a great voice. Don didn’t do a lot with school, but enjoyed selling Christmas cards with his mother. Ever since he was a young boy he loved to tinker and take things apart. As he grew he began fixing things and after a while he could fix just about anything. He was truly mechanically inclined. He could fix or build just about anything and he made some pretty interesting guitars. He played them beautifully, too. If anything ever needed fixing or repairing, Don was the man to do it and when he fixed it, it would never break again. He was good at woodworking and cabinetry as well. He loved restoring and fixing old cars. He worked on restoring an old Packard and drove it in a few parades. Don loved playing racquetball, baseball, hiking, jumping around like a child, and being with his children and grandchildren He loved going on vacations and took his family several times to Disneyland, Canada, The World's Fair, Mexico, and during the summer months he took the family camping or hiking on the weekends. Don was an active, valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in many callings, including two stake missions, the Elders Quorum Presidency, and in the High Priest Quorum. He also enjoyed working in the Salt Lake temple as a Veil worker. He loved his Lord and his testimony was strong. He met and married Dorothy Arlene Noorda in 1958, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1959. They had five children together, Don Dean, David, Lonnie, Julie and Sheila. Don loved all of his children dearly and loved to see them progress in whatever they desired to do. Don and Dorothy were married for 25 years before getting divorced. In the beginning of their marriage, Don worked for Granite Mill for six years. This was a stressful job on him and his family so one day he decided he had had enough and he quit. He created a fairly successful business in the water-softener industry. He always figured out a way to support his family and provide them with the things they needed. For the last thirty years he struggled against a debilitating tumor in his head and had other health issues to go along with, just for the fun of it. Still, he persevered against many odds. We’re all still trying to figure out how he survived all these years against all that came at him in life. In his Twilight years, after being single for about 25 years, he met and married the delight of his life, Violet Malinda Kimmel. After a whirlwind courtship of about 10 days, they married in Blackfoot, Idaho, June 12, 2009. He moved to Idaho to live with her there. Yet again, health issues got in the way and soon, both Don and Violet were struggling. Violet let go of the rope on November 24th of 2012, just 3 and a half years after being married to Don. Jeff and Julie brought Don home to live with them in Santa Clara, Utah and cared for him until the moment he passed through the veil on Sunday December 8th 2013, just two short days after his 76th birthday. We all know dad left just in time so that he would be in heaven to celebrate our Savior's birth, and to be reunited with his loved one's. What a joyous reunion it must have been for Don, his Father Vernon Lorenzo, Mother Sylvia Corinda Clapp, his sister's Marilyn Ober and Darleen Shelton, brother Vernon Chapman and Great Grandson Ronan Anthony Chapman. Don and Vi are together again, having a grand time and celebrating a reunion to beat all. Don is survived by his sisters, A. Yvonne Chapman, Sylvia C Chapman, (Ike), brother, Robert E Chapman (Theone) and five children: Sons, Don D Chapman (Merilee), and David L Chapman (Teresa), daughters, Lonnie S Stevens (Norman), Julie A Carpenter (Jeff), and Sheila A. Whitehead (David). Sixteen grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank all the staff at Emeritus at Cliff View Assisted Living for all the care given to Don the past 8 months, Gentiva Home Health Care and especially St. George hospice for being there for Don as he passed away.. Funeral Service will be held on Friday December 13, 2013 at the Santa Clara 15th Ward Chapel 3680 Pioneer Parkway Santa Clara, UT. The Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. Funeral Services at 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place at the Santa Clara Cemetery. Friends and Family are invited to share their thoughts and condolences online at www.SereniCareofStGeorge.com

Don Howard Chapman

December 6, 1937 - December 8, 2013