Obituary

This one is for you Doc.
Father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, son-in-law, husband, friend; and AKA Ben Johnson.
Let's celebrate the passing of James Lee Chapman by celebrating a story of his life. Please join in with a short story of your own. All who knew, Jim or Doc, had an opportunity to be regaled by his words of wisdom and often caught off guard by his disarming and colorful stories. Stories that would leave one shaking their head in wonder of where that had just come from, or asking, did he really say that, but mainly he would leave you laughing, and your spirits would be lifted by this well-intentioned prankster.
James' story began at Fort Meade, SD, with his birth, and he would later return as an employee, initially as a nursing assistant and later a Physician Assistant. He had a special attachment to Fort Meade that spanned 77 years, arriving at 6:00 a.m., August 30, 1941, at Fort Meade, welcomed by James and Jean Chapman. Although James would leave Fort Meade and Sturgis, SD, at age 18, he would return to Sturgis, his little Mayberry USA, as he called it. Jim worked at the Fort Meade VA beginning in the 70s and retired in June of 2001. He lived on the Fort Meade Campus with his family until his retirement. James was a story teller, and from the beginning of one's friendship he would beguile you with tales of his youth growing up in the Sturgis, Whitewood, Deadwood communities; from swimming, fishing, hunting, motorcycling to snowmobiling and sledding around Fort Meade Reservoir with his parents and siblings, and later as an adult sharing his love of these adventures with his own family.
James is survived by his former wives, Lita Chapman and Cheryl Pesicka-Chapman, and preceded in death by Kay Chapman. Jim has 7 children, James, Eddie, Marty, Jeanine, Taylor, Dione, and Autumn; 34 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. James was touched and honored by his legacy. His life and love will live on through family, as he felt this was his greatest accomplishment. Daddy loved his 4-legged friend, Bullet. Every night he would tell Bullet, ok, time for bed, now close your ears, close your eyes, close your mouth. Night Night! Jim always said Bullet owned the house and he just lived there, while Bullet ate steak, Jim ate hamburger.
Jim attended coffee, almost daily, at the McDonald's Tavern in Sturgis. He looked forward to this, where he chatted hours on end with his coffee buddies. He found much enjoyment in this activity and looked forward to the social time.
Jim is preceded in death by parents, James and Jean Chapman; and survived by siblings, Maxie and Jim Schwieder, Aurora, CO, Jeannie and Jerry Humble, Sturgis, SD, Colleen and Mike Arnold, Enid, OK, and John and Vivian Chapman, Aurora, CO.

Fun facts about Daddy:
He took pride in his yard. He loved to tease. Tell the best stories ever, never knew what was true or not. He loved to fish and tinker around on his toys, motorcycles, snowmobiles, go carts and his '56 AKA Putt-Putt, and he loved to "treasure-hunt."
Dad, in his Golden Years, liked fishing and taking "Us" kids out exploring the world.
Dad made the best of every holiday, especially Christmas and our yearly Easter Egg Hunt.
Dad could make friends anywhere he went. "I thought he was a celebrity." He loved his co- workers and never judged a person, "unless it was one of us girl's boyfriends."
Dad taught me to be fearless. He was a strict but loving Dad. He was overly protective of his children.
Dad had a nickname for everyone, whether they knew it or not.
Growing up with Dad was like the song "The Wanderer" by Dion's the Belmont's. He marched to the beat of his own drum - "The Chapman Drum" - only he knew the beat.
In the last few years, he became a little ornerier. He became the loony goony, as he knew he could get away with it because he was an "old man." He loved getting away with things because of his age and excused it as he was an old man.
With Jim's passing the community and the world lost a great person. He will be missed. No longer will he tell his friends stories like; Jerry and Jeannie went south for the winter. When asked what their southern destination was, he responded "North Dakota of course."
Farewell for now Jim, until we meet again. We all love you!
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. with Chaplain Herbert Cleveland officiating at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.