Joe Chapman, ‘Mr. Ferris,’ passes away at 91
FERRIS – Ferris lost one of its most beloved civic leaders – and its last living World War II veteran last week, when Joe Chapman, with his son and daughter-in-law by his side, passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 13.
Joseph Harlan “Joe” Chapman was born May 14, 1927, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He graduated at age 17 from Leo High School in 1944, then enlisted and served in the United States Navy during World War II, stationed at Hitchcock Naval Air Station, Texas.
While there, Joe met the love of his life, Jo Ann Hill, whom he married on June 24, 1950.
Soon after marrying and starting their life back in Fort Wayne, the couple were both diagnosed with significant medical difficulties: Joe with advanced Ulcerative Colitis, and Jo Ann with Muscular Sclerosis. Facing a seemingly insurmountable medical debt, they were invited to move to Ferris and live with Jo Ann’s grandmother, Stella Ann Batchler Jordan.
Soon after their arrival, they both quickly became fixtures in the Ferris community.
Jo Ann was the Ferris City Secretary from 1963-1973. She taught Sunday School at the First United Methodist Church for years, and was heavily involved in the Ferris PTA. She was also named the 1972-1973 Ferris Citizen of the Year.
Joe’s business and reputation as a custom homebuilder grew quickly, but he always purposely made time to actively give back to the community that welcomed the young marrieds with open arms.
If something needed to be built, Joe built it. From the Ferris Scout House, to stages and props for churches and schools. A lifelong Methodist, he not only served on his own church’s building committee, but also drew the plans and oversaw the construction of the Ferris First Baptist Church’s new sanctuary.
Joe was a member of the Ferris Lions Club from 1954-2019, and was president in 1968. He also served on the Ferris School Board from 1964-1973, and was president in 1968 during the height of the ’60s social turmoil and change.
His service to Ferris was recognized by being named the Ferris Citizen of the Year 1967-1968, and he was also the 2014 Ferris Pioneer of the Year.
Joe’s life-long commitment to the city of Ferris can be summed up by reading a plaque that was placed in 1997 on the Ferris Gazebo that he designed, built and donated for the Ferris Centennial in 1974.
It simply states: “This Gazebo is dedicated to Joe and Jo Ann Chapman, for their unselfish devotion to the City of Ferris. Thank you for never saying no!”
Joe and Jo Ann were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2000, shortly before her passing in April, 2002.
Joe was preceded in death by Jo Ann, his parents, and his two older brothers and one younger sister.
He is survived by son Greg and daughter-in-law Sherie Chapman of Ferris, four grandsons, two granddaughters, multiple great-grandchildren, and other family and friends too numerous to mention.
Visitation was held Thursday, March 14, at the Ferris First United Methodist Church, and funeral services were held Friday, March 15, also at the Ferris First United Methodist Church, with internment at Ferris Memorial Park North.