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Reflections
Reflections on the life of our Dad, our Grandpa and our Great Grandpa, John Chapman, born and named Jan Tjepkema, on October 21, 1912 in Hamilton, Ontario to his parents Jan and Johanna Tjepkema. He had an older sister, Greta and two younger brothers, Ed and Bill. His parents were both born in Holland and immigrated to Canada, where his father was a machinist and worked for Chipman Hotton, Canada Cotton and Sawyer Massey.
At the young age of 46, when Dad was only 6, his father died of rheumatic fever, leaving his mother with four young children. She returned to Holland with her children, where she left the youngest son, Bill, age 2, with her parents, where he remained until he was 14. She returned to Hamilton with her three older children and worked at "The Boys' Home" on Stinson St., so she could keep her children together.
Life was not easy in The Boys' Home, with sometimes as many as 200 boys. There was very strict and sometimes cruel discipline and assigned tasks to do daily. Not perfect and often mischievous, Dad was still chosen to do many errands outside the home, especially delivering messages on foot and was often also chosen for outside outings. On one occasion, he was to deliver a message to Nora Frances Henderson, a member of the City Council, to her home and had to wait for a reply. She was kind and loving and gave him a piece of pumpkin pie, which contained caraway seeds. Dad thought mice had left their droppings so he stuck the pie in his pocket to be rid of it. On Mrs. Henderson's return, she thought he had eaten the pie so fast, he must be very hungry and brought him another piece which he had to eat. The Henderson General Hospital, where Dad passed away, June 10 was named after the same Nora Frances Henderson.
During this time in The Boys' Home, the Head Mistress, a very strict and stern Jamaican-born lady, decided Tjepkema was too hard to pronounce and to spell so she arranged to have their name changed to Chapman and Jan to John, thus Dad became John Chapman, but his official birth certificate is still Jan Tjepkema.
At the age of 13, Dad was sent to be a helper on the farm of Lloyd and Lizzie Swartz, at R.R.#2, Nanticoke, Ont. Lloyd had a much younger sister, named Maggie, who lived with her parents just up the road, but an introduction of John and Maggie was made.
Dad returned to Hamilton after the farm stint and worked at Stelco. During his teenage years, around 17, he was working at home with some steel and a fragment of steel entered his eye and he was blinded in that eye for the rest of his life.
Working at Stelco was not for Dad, so he returned to the Nanticoke area and married Maggie Swarts in 1934 and they lived with Maggie's parents. The family soon grew to four, with the birth of daughters, Doris and then Fay and remained in that vicinity, living with Grandpa and Grandma Swarts and eventually moving on their own to rented accomodations.
During this time the Second World War was raging, and brothers Ed and Bill enlisted in the Armed Forces. Dad wanted to, but could not pass the medical due to only one sighted eye. So when Jarvis Airport was proposed Dad became a carpenter there, building hangars, mess halls, barracks and stayed on as a Tractor Operator for the duration of the Jarvis Airport, until it was dismantled in 1945 and he helped drive all the military vehicles to Kapuskasing, Ontario. Though not in uniform, he served his country well.
Doris was now ready for High School, so for the best interests of his children's education, Dad went to Simcoe and secured a job at Norfolk Co-Op Lumber Yard and moved our family to Simcoe in 1946. From Norolk Co-Op he went to work in the British Knit Plant, but Dad loved working with wood and building, so he left and worked for several small construction companies namely, Ralph Bint; Elliot Construction and Bob Spencer.
He finally realized it would be easier to be your own boss and build the way you thought it should be done, so he went on his own, self-employed, and built many beautiful homes with specialty built-in hand-crafted kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanities, from which he retired in the late 60's.
Our homes were always very modest, rented accomodations, where our friends were always welcome and most of the parties with our teenage friends were in our home. Not until both Doris and Fay were married and owning their own homes did Dad and Mum purchase their first and only home at 262 John St. S. in Simcoe, two doors from Bill and Barb Helka, and Bill is here today as a Pall Bearer. This home was an old dilapidated relic, but on a large lot. Dad completely removed the inside, rebuilt it, a large garage and workshop, and it was home until 1995.
Dad was widowed in April, 1989, with the passing of Mum and he fared well for several years, but then realized he sometimes never used his voice for several days, unless someone visited or the phone rang. He looked for a retirement home, chose Leisure Living in Jarvis, did all his own real estate dealings and moved in October, 1995, where he enjoyed life and made many friendships for almost 9 years. Debbie and Mike, the Administrators of Leisure Living tried and succeeded in making it home for Dad and Mike is here today as a Pall Bearer.
Dad didn't have many outside interests but he loved to sing, had a good voice and became a member of the Simcoe Barbershoppers, where he enjoyed singing lead for nearly 25 years. His favourite conductor, The Music Man with a capital M, Ray Danley, is here today as a Pall Bearer.
Dad and Mum never travelled far, but they did enjoy Ontario and spent much time travelling all the back roads Dad could find. He was a travelling Road Map and could tell you what the number of the road was, what the next town would be and where we could stop for a coffee and get a good piece of pie and he was always right. He studied the maps at home, but never referred to them on a trip. It was all in his head.
He enjoyed humor, jokes and puns and could repeat almost every story or joke he heard or read even at 91. Even two weeks ago, when being prepared for his right knee replacement surgery, he joked with the nurse, who was setting up the IV and was having difficulty. He said "You wouldn't be having trouble because you are trying to give me POISON IVY, would you?" She didn't get it, until Fay said, "Poison Ivy" and she said, "Oh, John! You're too much for me, even at 91."
Most of Dad's decisions were right ones, but to have his right knee replaced at 91 years was too risky and proved to be, as he contracted pneumonia and could not fight the infection.
God spared Dad for nearly 92 years and so we say, "Thank you, Lord, for his good influence in the lives of us your daughters, Doris and Fay, and sharing in the lives of our husbands, Earl and Fred, your Grandsons, Geoff and Scott and their wives Christine and Lois and your Great Grandchildren, Kathryn, Jessica, Alexis and Noah.
We will miss you immensely, Dad.
Your Loving Family
CHAPMAN, John, At the Henderson General Hospital, Hamilton, on Thursday, June 10, 2004 in his 92nd year. Forever loved and remembered by his daughters and sons-in-law, Doris and Earl Skirrow of Stoney Creek, Fay and Fred Tyrrell of Hamilton, his grandsons, Geoff and his wife Christine Skirrow of Stoney Creek, Scott and his wife Lois Skirrow of St. George and his great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Jessica and Alexis Skirrow of Stoney Creek and Noah Skirrow of St. George. Predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Maggie (1989), his sister Greta Lofthouse (1996), and his brothers, Edward (1972) and William, (April 2004). Visitation for Mr. Chapman will be at the THOMPSON WATERS FUNERAL HOME, 102 First Ave., Port Dover (519-583-1530) on Sunday, June 13, 2004, 2:00-4:00 p.m. only. Funeral Service will be held Monday, June 14, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel. Reverend Franklin Thomas officiating. Interment at Port Dover Cemetery. For those wishing, memorial donations to a charity of choice would be appreciated by the family.
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Rainham Builders
1912 - 2004 (91 years)