John Chipman

John Martin Chipman

Chipman, John Martin of Appleton, died Thursday, December 17, 2013 with his loving wife at his side. He was born Feb. 21, 1923, to James Edwin and May Maud (Hatcher) Chipman at Penokee, Graham County, Kansas. He went to school for 8 grades at a rural one room country school and graduated from Morland (Kansas) Rural High School in 1940. After working at various jobs and hitchhiking around the country and riding the rails, he joined the Merchant Marines in 1942 as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. In June 1945 he asked to be called to active duty in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in the Pacific Islands of Guam, Tinian and Saipan, several places in the U.S. and helped set-up the NATO Headquarters in Naples, Italy and Izmir, Turkey. He contracted tuberculosis and was treated and discharged from the Navy in 1958. He received rehabilitation training through the Veterans Administration and graduated with a BA from Ft. Hays Kansas State College, and an MA degree from the University of Nebraska.

He was employed at the Social Security Administration from 1961 until his retirement in July 1978. John married Maralon Scott in 1946 and that marriage ended in divorce. He married Darleen Jean (Nysse) Barrington, February 14, 1975 in Loveland, Colorado.

He is survived by his wife Darleen; a son Jay S. Chipman (Danny); a daughter Laura J. (Robin) Thiem; a grand-daughter Lea (Paul) MacLeod. A daughter, Darla Jean Chipman, preceded him in death, as did parents, and brothers Edwin E., James L., and Marion W. Chipman.

John had an interest in many things (cats, dogs, Volkswagens, hunting, art, poetry, coin collecting, travel and writing) but an enduring interest in genealogy, geography, history and the military. He published his research on his mother's family: "Hatcher Migration Story: A Ramble Across America".

It was John's wish that a private service be conducted by Pastor Bode from Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church of Appleton. Internment at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, New London, WI.

John requested that no monetary gifts or memorials be made or accepted in his name.