William Remington Chapman, Jr.

William Remington Chapman Jr., age 88, of Minnetonka, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at The Orchards of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Bill was born on June 26, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the youngest child of William and Evelyn Chapman, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Dianne; his sister Marjorie (Jenkins); and his parents. He is survived by his three children: son Scott and daughter-in-law Jenny of Golden Valley; daughter Lynne Voss of Blaine; and daughter Amy and son-in-law Eric Brehm of Merrimac, Wisconsin. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Karen Rudeen of North Oaks, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. As a young man, Bill earned his pilot's license and enjoyed flying the family Cessna with his father. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Engineering and enrolled in the ROTC program, eventually serving in the Air Force as a Lieutenant. Bill and Dianne were stationed in Ephrata, Washington, before spending three years at Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan, where their son Scott was born. After completing his service, he returned to Minnesota, where he and Dianne cherished their home and neighbors in Minnetonka for over fifty years. Bill found a fulfilling career at IBM in the education department and later continued this work as a private business consultant in early retirement. Throughout his life, Bill was an active volunteer in the community. He served on the steering committee for Hopkins United Methodist Church, organized and coordinated the Hopkins area tennis ladder, coached and refereed baseball and softball for his children, and was a strong advocate for environmental protection and wetland conservation in the Minnetonka area. Bill had a deep love for travel. Together with Dianne and their family, he explored Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, all fifty states, and made a memorable return trip to Japan through an Elderhostel program. He and Dianne dedicated countless hours to genealogy, researching their family trees during trips to Utah and Sweden, where they discovered the Rudeen homestead and formed lifelong friendships. In retirement, Bill and Dianne enjoyed their "snowbird" home in Sun City, Arizona, where he actively played tennis and lawn bowling. A competitive sportsman and game player, Bill developed a passion for geocaching, combining his interests in technology, travel, and problem-solving. While in Minnesota, they joined a camping group and enjoyed numerous regional outings with the camaraderie of good friends. These friendships continued in later years during monthly lunches together. A celebration of life for Bill will be held at Messiah United Methodist Church, 17805 County Rd. 6, Plymouth, on Thursday, October 24, at 2:00 PM. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 PM, preceding the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Messiah United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Association. There will be a private interment at Lakewood Cemetery on Friday, October 25.

Tributes

William Remington Chapman, Jr.

June 26, 1936 - October 12, 2024

Tributes

William Remington Chapman, Jr.

June 26, 1936 - October 12, 2024

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