Ansel Jerome Chapman 1915-2005

DAVIS, CHAPMAN

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 5/5/2005 at 14:16:49

Judge Ansel Jerome Chapman, 90, of Iowa City, died at Mercy Hospital on May 4, 2005, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2005 at Agudas Achim Synagogue. Burial will be in Agudas Achim Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship has been established at the University of Iowa College of Law. Contributions may be sent to the Ansel Chapman Scholarship Fund c/o Peter Wilich at the University of Iowa Foundation, PO Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244.

Judge Chapman was born May 1, 1915, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Dora (Davis) and Nate Chapman. He moved to Iowa City in 1920. In 1946 Judge Chapman married Corinne Wohlner of Omaha, Nebraska. On April 14th they celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

Judge Chapman was a 1932 graduate of Iowa City High School, a 1936 graduate of the University of Iowa, and a 1939 graduate of Yale University Law School. Following law school, Judge Chapman practiced law in Mason City, Iowa until the outbreak of World War II. He was called to active duty as an army reserve officer prior to Pearl Harbor, but received a medical discharge in 1941. He returned to Iowa City and managed the family movie theater business for many years. He than joined Bill Meardon and Bill Sueppel in their law practice, where he stayed until 1968 when he was appointed to the Iowa State District Court by Governor Harold Hughes. Judge Chapman retired from the bench 1985 and continued to serve the state as a judge on senior status.

Throughout his lifetime, Judge Chapman was an active member of the Iowa City community. He served as Iowa City Police Judge, was a member of the Iowa City City Council, a member of and president of the Iowa City School Board, a member of the Mercy Hospital Board, president of the Johnson County Lung Association, and member of Agudas Achim Synagogue. He was the first recipient of the Iowa Judge’s Association Award of Excellence and a member of the City High Hall of Fame.

Ansel Chapman is survived by his wife, three children, Nathan (Cynthia) of Pine Mountain Valley, GA, Katherine (Dwight) Keller of Leawood, KS, and Barbara (Paul) Siemann of Cherry Hills Village, CO; 9 grandchildren, Joy, LulaMae, John and Charles Chapman, Dorothy (Tim) Lambert, Ethan and Ashley Keller, and Alexander and Molly Siemann; and two great-grandchildren, Sierra Lamb and Paige Lambert; his brother, Marvin Chapman and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-grandson, David Lamb.

The family wishes to thank the entire community for its love and support during this difficult time and particularly thank the staff at Mercy Hospital for its care during Judge Chapman’s illness.

On line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com