Chapman, Paul L.

Paul L. Chapman, 93, of Clarence, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's United Church of Christ, Clarence, by the Rev. David Mears. Burial: church cemetery. Visitation: 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence.

Born Nov. 20, 1917, in rural Tipton, the son of Ray and Edith (Eisaman) Chapman, he married LaVonne Olson on March 22, 1941, in Tipton. Paul was a graduate of Tipton High School and St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. He served in the U.S. Army for four years. In 1947, he established the Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence and, in 1955, in Wheatland. He was a past president of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and was appointed by Governor Robert Ray to the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science Examiners in 1976-1983.

Locally, he served on the Clarence Fire Department for many years, board of directors of Clarence Savings Bank for 32 years, Freemont Masonic Lodge, El Kahir Shrine and Clarence American Legion.

Paul was an ardent golfer, having 5 holes in one. The Chapmans spent 28 years wintering in Arizona.

Survivors include his wife, LaVonne; son, Paul Jr. “Chip” and wife Karla of Clarence; grandchildren, Jodi (Ken) Henke of Norwalk, Dan (Gretchen) Chapman of Clarence and Lori (Todd) Miller of Tipton; and great-grandchildren, Nathan and Michaela Henke, Grace and Ty Nichols, Ben, Kiley and Blake Chapman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and stepfather, Lewis Mathews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Clarence Community Foundation, Box 220, Clarence, IA 52216.

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