Richard M. Chapman 1928-2008

THIELEN, CHAPMAN, CONZETT, REITTINGER, DAVIS, YARNALL, EVANS, MILLS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/16/2008 at 19:10:03

Richard M. Chapman

Richard M. Chapman, 79, of 1035 Wilson St., died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at home from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), surrounded by his family.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nativity Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 6 of Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish scripture wake service at 2:30.

Mr. Chapman was employed at the former Dubuque Packing Co. for more than 26 years, retiring in 1982.

He was born on Aug. 11, 1928, in Dubuque, son of Merrill and Myrtle (Thielen) Chapman. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army.

He married Jayne Conzett on June 19, 1948, at Nativity Church; she preceded him in death on Dec. 27, 2001. He was a lifelong member of Nativity Parish and also a member of the American Legion Post 6, of Dubuque.

Stock cars were his passion. He drove for more than 20 years and won the first heat race at the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. He was inducted into the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame and was a member of NASCAR. Richard was an avid bass tournament fisherman and a member of Bass World Sports, the Key City Bass Club and the Mississippi Walleye Club.

Family and fishing were Richard's life; he loved spending his time with his grandchildren.

Surviving are his children, Richard "Dickie" (Marsha) Chapman, Kristina Chapman, Kim (Tom) Reittinger, Kelli (Randy) Davis and Rod (Sharon) Chapman, all of Dubuque; his daughter-in-law, Linda Chapman, of Dubuque; his brother, Ralph (Dorothy) Chapman, of East Dubuque, Ill.; his sister, Audrey Yarnall, of Dubuque; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He also was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his granddaughter, Nikki; a brother, Gene; and two sisters, Betty Evans and Jeanette Mills.

The Chapman family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque for the care and support given to both Richard and his family.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Monday, February 5, 2008