1950
Charles
2011
Charles Chapin
January 3, 1950 — September 25, 2011
Charles E. Chapin, age 61 of De Graff, formerly of the New London/Spicer area, died unexpectedly Sunday morning, September 25, in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church. Interment will be at the Poplar Cemetery near Leader on Friday, Sept. 30 at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.
Charles was born on January 3, 1950, in Wadena, Minnesota, the son of Leonard and Elsie (Kleen) Chapin. He grew up in the New London - Spicer community and graduated from high school there in 1968. Charles then served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence stationed in the Mediterranean Sea as an aircraft mechanic. Following his discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute for aviation hydraulic mechanics. Charles married Jean Martinka in 1977 and they made their home in New Ulm where he worked at Martinka Motors. They later moved to Willmar and he purchased part of Spicer Transfer and renamed it to Chapin Trucking. They divorced in 1991. In 1993 he sold his trucking business. For the past 17 years, Charles has been employed with Truck Transport of Willmar as an owner/operator.
Charles had a passion for horses, hunting and old farm "treasurers". He was fascinated by the Native American history and heritage. He loved spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his three children, Ben (Angela) Chapin of Plymouth, Jesse (and Bill) Schweiss of Willmar and Laura Chapin (and fiance, William Nuorala) of Prinsburg; three grandchildren, Alex and Lucy Chapin and William Nuorala Jr.; his mother, Elsie Louise McLaughlin of Minnetonka; five siblings, Janice (and Darrell) Anderson of Bloomington, Charlotte Chapin of St. Louis Park, Patsy (and Raymond) Valandra of Rapid City, SD., and Karen (and Lloyd) Hagemeier of St. Cloud and Steven (and Corrine) Chapin of Phoenix, AZ., besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard; his step-father, Robert Earl McLaughlin and one brother, Lenny Chapin.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church. Interment will be at the Poplar Cemetery near Leader on Friday, Sept. 30 at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.
Charles was born on January 3, 1950, in Wadena, Minnesota, the son of Leonard and Elsie (Kleen) Chapin. He grew up in the New London - Spicer community and graduated from high school there in 1968. Charles then served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence stationed in the Mediterranean Sea as an aircraft mechanic. Following his discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute for aviation hydraulic mechanics. Charles married Jean Martinka in 1977 and they made their home in New Ulm where he worked at Martinka Motors. They later moved to Willmar and he purchased part of Spicer Transfer and renamed it to Chapin Trucking. They divorced in 1991. In 1993 he sold his trucking business. For the past 17 years, Charles has been employed with Truck Transport of Willmar as an owner/operator.
Charles had a passion for horses, hunting and old farm "treasurers". He was fascinated by the Native American history and heritage. He loved spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his three children, Ben (Angela) Chapin of Plymouth, Jesse (and Bill) Schweiss of Willmar and Laura Chapin (and fiance, William Nuorala) of Prinsburg; three grandchildren, Alex and Lucy Chapin and William Nuorala Jr.; his mother, Elsie Louise McLaughlin of Minnetonka; five siblings, Janice (and Darrell) Anderson of Bloomington, Charlotte Chapin of St. Louis Park, Patsy (and Raymond) Valandra of Rapid City, SD., and Karen (and Lloyd) Hagemeier of St. Cloud and Steven (and Corrine) Chapin of Phoenix, AZ., besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard; his step-father, Robert Earl McLaughlin and one brother, Lenny Chapin.
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