Frederick G. Chapman

Born February 21, 1934 in Kayford, West Virginia to Laura Alice and Clay Roy Chapman. Fred went to be with our Lord on August 13, 2014. Fred is survived by his wife Rose Marie Chapman (Rogers), his children, Paul and Teresa Christopher, Bob and Leesa Hartmann, Cindy Boettcher, Fred and Melody Chapman, Jr., and Mervin and Tiffany Chapman. He was blessed with 17 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He leaves behind 2 sisters and one brother.

Fred grew up in Eskdale, West Virginia where he graduated from East Bank High School. He met his sweetheart at the company store where she worked. They were married 6 months later. Fred joined the army and was deployed to Germany the day after their first child was born. After completing his term in the army, he worked in the coal mines of West Virginia. He moved his growing family west where he found employment in the uranium and silver mines in New Mexico and the copper mines in Arizona. He served in the police force for a time and as Sheriff while in New Mexico.  During this time he earned a pilot’s license and purchased a small airplane. The family moved to the Midwest in 1965 where Fred and his brother worked together in underground tunneling and construction.

He made his final family home in Kansas City, Missouri in 1970 where his wife still resides. Fred loved to tell about how his family won him to Christ through prayer and witnessing. He was saved in 1977 and began attending Open Door Baptist Church with his family soon after. He met several lifelong friends at Open Door who helped him to grow spiritually.    They enjoyed great fellowship during their many fishing and hunting trips.

To those who knew him, Fred was always a man’s man, a modern day John Wayne; his rugged character shaped by his difficult early years.   When problems presented themselves, you could count on Fred to find a solution.  He worked hard to provide for his family and taught his children a strong work ethic.

He retired from construction work in 1996 after open heart surgery. He still enjoyed and spent much time working the “farm,” hunting and fishing with friends, and enjoying his family. While attending a Promise Keepers conference with his sons, Fred expressed regret that he was too old to start serving the Lord. Fred Jr. reminded him that it’s better to be a door keeper in the house of the Lord, than to dwell in tents of wickedness…(Ps. 84:10).

In his last years, Fred served as a greeter at Open Door Baptist Church, a door keeper in the house of the Lord. His desire was for others to know his wonderful Lord. After cancer and a broken hip took away his mobility, he continued to greet members and visitors when his health allowed. It was his purpose to make sure his nurses heard the gospel. They were a captive audience taking him to church with his wheel chair. While visiting dad in his last days, Gary Zuber led one of those nurses to the Savior. Fred was in and out of consciousness at the time, but we believe he recognized what was happening. Praise the Lord for His goodness.

Dad pondered what heaven would be like. His desire was to work to please Jesus on the other side.  His favorite verse was James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift comes from above…..”

He was self-conscious about his singing but his love for the Lord was greater than his pride and he sang out hymns from a grateful heart. He will be remembered by many as a very kind man, and by his family as a great father and provider whose last years of life trump the early years before Christ.

Siblings: Carson Chapman (deceased), Dreama Campbell, Terry Chapman (deceased), Tommy Chapman (deceased), Dewey Chapman, Corbett Chapman (deceased), and Judy Chapman

Hattie Holmes (honorary daughter)

Grandchildren:  Adam Christopher, Caleb Christopher, Stephen Hartmann, Deborah Hartmann Walker, Abigail Hartmann, Ben Hartmann, Tina Thurman, Timothy Murnahan, Jacab Murnahan, Kenny Wiggins, Ian Chapman, Deziree Chapman, Alyse Plumley, Tyler Chapman, Megann Chapman, A.J. Chapman, Sam Chapman, and honorary grandchildren Derek and Kevin Forbes and Billie Lee.

Great Grandchildren:  Julie, Elyse, Portia, Elias, Ella and Gabrielle Christopher. Ezra Christopher. Reagan and Judah Walker. Hunter Hartmann. Hunter and Jase Plumley,

A visitation is planned for Monday, August 18, 2014 at Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, KS 66109 from 9:30-10:30 AM. A funeral service will follow the visitation and begin at 10:30 AM. A military graveside will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.

 

Visits: 6

Condolences

  1. Bob in Grandview, Missouri on August 16, 2014 at 8:53 am

    I am grateful for the life of Mr. Chapman. Thanks to his service and to the service of others in our armed forces, my family and I have been able to lead our lives in freedom and peace.



  2. Nykki on August 18, 2014 at 8:07 am

    I miss you already Mr. Chapman. There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t think of you. Daily I marveled in your strength and tenacity. My own personal hero.

    Rejoice in peace



  3. Timothy Murnahan on February 20, 2024 at 4:57 am

    Grandpa you was a manly man. I remember when I though I was becoming a man cuz I had some chest hair about 16 years old and you reached into your shirt through the hole where your head goes through and came out with a hand full of hair. Then blessed me with it and handed it off too me. God is cool for making people like you and my GMA. The world now isn’t the world it was when you was here. People a cold hearted and self centered. Today I feel God has put me here to teach others how to love. I want to thank u for loving me and providing for me and the family. I could tell you had a hard life and I also know that Jesus Christ will show us the folly of our ways in a way that melts that shell that’s calloused up and touches our heart. Thank u for taking me to Mr Lindsey’s house to see you do a service that u didn’t expect nothing. Just doing Gods work. It’s a special person that’s hard as rock and soft as cotton at same time. I took 33 years to truly grow up and wish I could have done it earlier but I know that God’s timing is the only time and I have learned from my past mistakes. That’s why Jesus is so important because no one can live up to the law we all going to fall short but through Jesus Christ once we change and God knows that shoot it’s in the past. It’s hard to forgive yourself when you know how bad u used to be but I know God don’t want us down if we have changed. You were a role models, a farmer, construction worker, and a man of God. I know that when you died and Jesus was waiting on you I am sure the riches you had stored was a nice long list of people u influenced and helped connect them to God. I bet it felt good to know the Creator was pleased with u. I’m misunderstood Gpa but I promise u I am proud of who God allowed me to become and I am excited to see how he cleans up the mess people have made. Ain’t been fishing in a long time I think I will soon. See u when God calls Gpa you were the Glue of our family and one day I plan on holding us together. U were a fighter of the good fight all the way and I mean all the way till death. Warrior for God upon Rock of Truth. With out you and my GMA I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I miss u.



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