Henry Llewellyn "Chappie" Chapman Jr.

With the passing of Henry Llewellyn “Chappie” Chapman, Jr. on August 15, 2022, his family lost a loving husband, father and grandfather, his friends lost a loyal and supportive colleague and comrade and the community lost a respected leader and benefactor. The story of a man’s life is more than a serial recitation of the signal events of his maturity. To the contrary, and as must be the case with Chappie, it tells a human story with those events as landmarks.

“Chappie”, or as he was sometimes called, “H.L.”, was born on December 9, 1937, in Pekin, Illinois, the son and only child of Henry L. Chapman, Sr. and Clementine (Coose) Chapman. He grew up in his hometown, graduating from Pekin High School in 1955. During his formative years Chappie acquired the virtues of kindness, compassion and truthfulness which stood him in good stead. He also took on the characteristics of perseverance, optimism and integrity for which he was later known. To know Chappie well was to profit from his upbeat temperament and dogged conviction that challenges exist to be overcome. Those attributes served him well when his father died while he was a sophomore in high school. They also defined the positive outlook with which he confronted the progressive neurological disorder, primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), which claimed his life. Chappie stoically battled his disease for over 7 years all the while maintaining his trademark positive attitude.

Growing up, and throughout his life, Chappie loved sports, as both a participant and fan, particularly skiing, golf and tennis. As a spectator, he was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. At every opportunity you would find him first at Sportsmen’s Park and later at Busch Stadium, pulling for Stan Musial or Bob Gibson. His secret ambition was to play second base for the Cardinals with his idol, Stan Musial from whom he received his prized possession, a personally autographed baseball. The closest he came to reaching that goal was attending Cubs/Cardinals fantasy camp in Mesa, Arizona in 1988, where his locker mate was Bob Gibson.

Chappie also had manifested an early flare for expression and persuasion. He was sports editor for the Pekin High School newspaper and a member of Quill & Scroll Society – an international honorary society for high school journalists.

As the sapling becomes the oak, Chappie matured into the talented, disciplined and compassionate man which his virtues and childhood characteristics predicted. After graduating from Pekin High School, Chappie attended the University of Illinois where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960. While on the U of I campus, Chappie was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and served on the Junior Inter-Fraternity Council. He was also manager of the freshman and varsity baseball teams.

Following graduation from the University of Illinois in 1960, Chappie began a sales and marketing career with Xerox, IBM and 3M Co. For those employers, and in that order, he lived in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Choosing to come back home, he was transferred to Peoria by 3M to manage its Indiana, Illinois and Iowa region. It was here that he met and married Janice Lynne Zweifel, the love of his life.

As Chappie worked his way up the corporate ladder with 3M, he was promoted to a managerial position in Washington, D.C. in 1976. That presented a crossroads in his life, the choice of which led to his career in this community, with the resultant prosperity and happiness which he and Jan enjoyed for the next 46 years.

Leaving the corporate world after 15 years, Chappie came to an enduring career which was well suited to his talents, personality and disposition. In 1976 he joined the Milwaukee based investment firm of Loewi & Company in Peoria, qualifying as a licensed financial advisor. His passion in helping clients was self-evident. Chappie earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in 1981 and subsequently achieved the standing of Registered Financial Adviser. He was recognized in his profession by election to Research Magazine’s Broker Hall of Fame in 2000, and was named the first recipient of the “Wachovia Way Award”, receiving that award over a competitive field of 11,400 financial advisors. In 2007, Chappie formed the Chapman Investment Group, fulfilling the dream of working professionally with his two sons, Tripp and Carter. Chappie remained with the same firm through seven name changes for 41 years retiring as Sr. Vice President from Wells Fargo Advisors in 2017. He had a distinguished career and received the Wells Fargo Lifetime Achievement Award upon his retirement.

Many in this community may remember Chappie as the Chief Financial Analyst for WMBD radio and television stations for 27 years. Between 1976 and 2003, he gave daily market reports on WMBD radio. From 1980 – 1997, Chappie presented a television stock market report on WMBD every Saturday evening. Those programs are worth remembering for the colorful insights and emphasis provided by the reporter and for Chappie’s signature closing: “Until next week, I’m Chappie Chapman, happy investing.” During the 18 year period from 1980 – 1998, Chappie also taught continuing education classes in investing at Illinois Central College and Bradley University.

Chappie recognized the blessings in his life and career. He was much more of a giver than a taker in the community. In those respects, he served Peoria, the community he loved, very well in many capacities. He was co-chairman of the Mayor’s Take Pride in Peoria Commission and served on the Peoria City Beautiful Sculpture Selection Committee (Sonar Tide by Richard Serra). From that service he was appointed as a commissioner on the Peoria Public Building Commission, and was its chairman between 1988 and 1990. In the business and finance community he was on the board of Security Savings & Loan Association, and served as its chairman from 1987 – 1989.

Chappie had a particular interest in the appreciation and dissemination of fine arts, both visual and audible. He served on the Lakeview Museum Arts and Sciences Board, and as Chairman between 1989 and 1991. Following construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Chappie also served on its foundation board. That led to his appointment by Governor Jim Edgar to serve as a trustee on the Illinois Arts Council between 1990 and 2004. Chappie had a singular interest in classical music which led to his service on the board of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and as its Chairman from 1980 – 1982. While serving on that board, the Peoria Civic Center auditorium, or as Chappie referred to it “our symphony hall” was completed 40 years ago. That gave Chappie the opportunity to select the “best seats in the house” for Symphony performances, which he and friends shared for approximately 30 years.

Not one to slight our animal friends, Chappie was the first chairman of the newly formed Peoria Zoological Society (1996 – 1999). Ever the St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball fan, when the Peoria Chiefs became a Cardinal affiliate in 1996, Chappie became an investor and co-owner to the present time.

Throughout his professional life, Chappie’s energies and efforts resulted in other numerous unsolicited awards. In 1970 he was named to the list of “Outstanding Young Men in America”. Locally he received the Peoria Area Arts and Science Council’s Prescott Bloom Award for “meritorious service to the arts”, and was honored by the Peoria Zoological Society for his “significant contributions and leadership roles”.

Chappie was a man of taste and sensibilities. Well-read and well-traveled, he and Jan toured the capitals and major cities of the world where they enjoyed many of the best known museums and galleries. In Illinois Chappie had season tickets for the Chicago Symphony, as well as the Peoria Symphony, and was in frequent attendance at the Chicago Lyric Opera.

As a conversationalist, he could hold his own in any setting, whether discussing politics, the arts, entertainment or life in general. He was known for his sense of humor which was frequently on display to both friends and acquaintances. Serious subjects got the consideration which they merited. On the other hand, Chappie did not indulge hypocrisy or attacks upon his beloved Cardinals.

While he never “wore it on his sleeve”, Chappie was a man of dedication and faith. A 40-year member of First Federated Church, in addition to attending regular services, he participated in congregational activities, including portraying one of the three wisemen at a Christmas church service. That gave him the opportunity to use his sonorous baritone voice in presenting “gifts from afar”. Likewise, he regularly appeared in annual Christmas sketches which were presented for friends and family. His dedication to humor and parody found an outlet in those productions where one year he played “Chicken Little” in anticipation of Santa Clause. Suffice it to say, Chappie had a real joy for life which he shared with everyone.

Ever popular with a warm smile and greeting, Chappie had no enemies. Dedicated to his family, Chappie had the pleasure of seeing his two sons, Carter and Tripp, mature and join him in the profession which he loved. Ever at his side, Jan was not only his beloved wife but his best friend and life’s companion. To his friends, associates and all who knew him, Chappie was ever a gentleman who was principled, loyal, disciplined, goal oriented, always positive and who had a strong faith and a joy for life. He always saw the good in everyone and everything. He will be remembered for his wonderful smile, his cheerful greeting to friends and acquaintances and his eternally positive attitude.

Chappie is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janice Lynne Zweifel Chapman, their two sons, Henry L. “Tripp” (Dina) Chapman III of Elgin, IL and John Carter (Laura) Chapman of Peoria; five grandchildren, Alia and Avery Chapman (Elgin) and John, Colette and Elle Chapman (Peoria). Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Carol Dikeman of Naperville and Joan Stanisic of Peoria, and four nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, George and Meridith Zweifel and three brothers-in-law, Robert Powers, Thomas Stanisic and William Dikeman.

Chappie’s family would like to express sincere gratitude to our full time caregiver Eric Riegler whose dedication has turned into a friendship over the last four years. His loyalty will always be remembered. We would like to thank the special team of nurses and CNA’s lead by Dr. Patricia Deters at the Richard L. Owen’s Hospice Home who provided outstanding care and helped us all through his final journey and for Dr. Isaac Tan for his attentive care.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022 at First Federated Church. Pastor David Ezekiel will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the church. An additional visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Cremation has been entrusted to the Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Chappie's family is handling the service arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Chappie’s memory may be made to the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Peoria Zoological Society, First Federated Church in Peoria or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences and memories may be shared with Chappie's family at www.woolsey-wilton.com.