Ishpeming - James G. Chapman, age 73, of 168 Co. Rd. GT Ishpeming, passed away at his home on Friday, June 8, 2012 following a 2 year courageous battle with cancer. Jim was under the loving care of his family and UP Home Health & Hospice.


Jim was born January 30, 1939 in Hubbell, MI the son of the late Clarence and Effie (Kotajarvi) Chapman. He grew up in Tamarack City and was a graduate of the Dollar Bay High School, Class of 1956. Jim served in the United States Army from 1958 – 1960 having been stationed in Germany. He returned to the Upper Peninsula following his service time and worked for the Arthur G. McKee Construction Co. for a period of 11 years, working mainly on mine construction projects in Michigan and Minnesota. Jim then was employed by Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. for a period of thirty years. While with Cliffs, Jim had been the Controller at the Empire Mine and the Tilden Mine locally, and had also worked in Colorado and Trinidad. He spent his final two years working in the main offices in Cleveland, retiring in 2002.


Jim was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. He loved his retirement camp on the Dead River Basin, and time spent boating with his daughter Denise and family. The Little Dead Wednesday Night Social Club was always a favorite of Jim's. He truly cherished time spent Duck Hunting with his son "Chipper" along with the annual ritual of Deer Camp. He had been a member of the Ishpeming Ski Club, and had coached ski-jumping for several years. During his retirement years Jim and Kathy spent the winter months in South Padre Island, TX. He was a member of the Wawonowin Country Club and enjoyed golfing in his retirement years. He was also a member of the VFW Post #4624 of Hubbell, Ishpeming Elks Lodge #447, and the Masonic Lodge.


Survivors include his wife of 47 years Kathryn (Mayry) Chapman of Ishpeming, a daughter – Denise (Brent) Clark of Ishpeming, a son Jim "Chipper" (Andrea) Chapman of Eau Clair, WI, 4 grandchildren – Kate and Jacob Clark & Jenna and Abby Chapman, 3 sisters – Patricia (Angelo) Decarlo of Hot Springs Village, AR, Glenda (Ed) Bayles of Orland Park, IL and Lori (Chuck) Trasti of Green Bay, WI, along with several nieces and nephews.


A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Warren Geier to officiate. The family will greet relatives and friends from 2 until 3pm on Sunday at the Church.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church memorial fund at 715 Mather Ave., Ishpeming, MI 49849 in Jim's memory.