Dr. Neil F. Chapman

1919 - 2016

Dr. Neil F. Chapman, Col. USAF Ret., 96, of Jacksonville died Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at Passavant Hospital Transitional Care Unit in Jacksonville.

He was born October 18, 1919, in Perry, Iowa, the son of Thomas Vance and Thora Victoria Fagen Chapman.

He is survived by three children, Bruce Chapman (wife, Constance Franey) of Washington, Missouri, Elizabeth Anderson (husband, Ed) of Concord and Pamela Harrison (husband, Philip) of South Jacksonville; three grandchildren, Neil Chapman, Rebecca Miller and Jane Schuster; a great-granddaughter, Ellen Rose Miller; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife and the mother of his children, Helen Harrington, in 1997; his second wife, Lucy Ford, in 2002; and four brothers, Ronald, LaVerne, Thayne and James Chapman.

Dr. Chapman served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and later earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1951. Following several years of veterinary practice in Algona, Iowa, he returned to the U.S. Air Force as a command veterinarian. Among his accomplishments in Japan was his overhaul of the sentry dog procurement program. Upon his return to the United States, Dr. Chapman was put in charge of all Air Force veterinarians east of the Mississippi and for the inspection and purchasing of meat for the eastern Air Force bases. He retired in 1973 with the rank of colonel.

He was a member of the American Legion and the American Veterinary Medicine Association for more than 60 years. He was a dedicated conservationist and steward with his Iowa farm property. He planted thousands of trees and worked diligently to maintain and improve habitat throughout his retirement.

Cremation has been accorded. Private family committal services will be held later in Iowa. Memorial gifts are suggested to Lost Island Nature Center, 3267 350th Avenue, Ruthven, IA 51358. Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home and Crematory in Jacksonville is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent online at www.buchanancody.com.