Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Michael Fredrick Chapman was born in Bakersfield, California, to Cynthia Kreck and Fredrick Chapman in 1938. Michael grew up in La Cañada with his parents and two siblings, Susan and Peter. While Michael’s father worked in the automotive industry, his mother was a teacher who shared her love of nature and the gift of music with her children. As a result, Michael embraced nature by hunting, camping, fishing and river rafting. As his mother collected Indian rugs, baskets and pots, he also shared a great appreciation for the Native American culture. With an early love of classical music, Michael played the piano, cello and violin. His mother took the children to concerts at a young age, while also sharing her musical talents throughout their lives. Michael was greatly influenced by his grandmother, who was a strong lady. She did incredible things such as using dynamite to build a new well or pulling down a tree with her Lincoln. She also extended her hand often in friendship, making pies for people who were sick in the community. Michael wrote a beautiful three-page tribute in honor of his grandmother after her passing.

In high school, Michael played football and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father. After graduating from high school, he attended Pasadena City College. He thought about being a doctor one day, but he also loved the outdoors and wanted to become a teacher. Michael went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree at Humboldt State University.

With his interest in hunting, Michael and his friend opened a hunting club in Hesperia. For six years, the hunting club was the place to go as popular movie stars of the time often visited for pheasant hunting. Later, Michael went to work for his cousin as a salesman for Mercury Tube. In 1975, he and another salesman, Richard, started a wholesale business that delivered parts to muffler shops. Nine years ago, Michael bought Anchor Muffler and worked six-days a week, dedicated to his clients.

In his personal life, Michael married Francine in 1958. The couple welcomed their only child, Michelle, into the world. Michelle remembers him as a wonderful, supportive father and his love of family carried over into her own life. When the couple divorced, later Michael met Shirley at the ranch. The couple was married for three years and Michael welcomed Shirley’s son, Brian, into his life as a son. When the couple divorced, Michael devoted himself to his business.

Then, the unexpected happened. He reconnected with a friend, Dorothy. They became best friends, as they were both good listeners. Michael would stop by the house to see how she was doing as a single parent and they attended Brian’s baseball games in Glendale. The couple first rented a home in Garden Grove in August 1972. In October of that same year, with tears in his eyes, Michael told Dottie, “I want to marry you and I want to get a marriage license.” She agreed. The couple married in a beautiful ceremony at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Dorothy wore a long, beautiful pink dress, while Michael wore a navy blue Armani suit. Dorothy’s son, Eddie, was his best man.

Dorothy and Michael welcomed all of the children into their lives as their own children, extending the family with open arms. Michael even taught John Paul, who was like another son, how to golf. John Paul went on to earn a golf scholarship to college. As a couple, they spent every weekend together golfing in foursomes, fishing at Crowley Lake, skiing at Mammoth or Big Bear, and riding bicycles at Huntington or Seal Beach. They had a true partnership in every sense. Dorothy also worked with Michael in the business and they became members of the Crystal Cathedral and volunteer counselors on a national hotline.

Mike spent lots of time with his son-in-law Larry, sharing hundreds of fishing adventures at Crowley. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his son, Eddie. With the purchase of his boat, there were many memories created at Crowley. There was lots of laughter found together on the water. Michael often caught 8 – 10 lb. trout and his biggest hunting prize was an 8-point buck. As the grandchildren were welcomed into his life one-by-one, Michael taught the grandkids how to boogie board at the beach, how to play baseball and how to fish. He attended baseball games, gymnastic meets, and introduced several of his grandchildren to his love of golf. He also bought his grandsons beautiful bow and arrows for shooting at targets in Riverside and Corona.

Michael’s favorite sports were baseball, football and golf. He loved the Los Angeles Dodgers and UCLA was his favorite team, as he bought season tickets to the UCLA games every year. At home, Larry remembers Michael would often watch two televisions with two different football games while he would listen to the Dodgers game on his transistor radio. Over the last decade, Michael made time to watch neighborhood children, especially Phillip, play youth baseball, attending the entire season’s games. He even flew to Cooperstown with Phillip and the whole team. He was so proud of him on the field and was happy to sponsor his team.

Michael looked forward to the annual trips to Crowley Lake. His last trip to Crowley Lake was spent with friends Pat, Brian and Dan, only days before his passing. When Michael was leaving Crowley, he had tears in his eyes and said, “Goodbye Crowley, you’ve been so good to me, but this is my last time.”

Michael Chapman will be remembered for the way he lived his life, treating people with great respect. He was a beautiful man who was happy and filled with kindness. He led an active full life, appreciating nature and the outdoors. He was so very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. His family will miss everything about him, especially his presence. His advice would be for his family and many friends to carry on, keep him in your thoughts, go on a hike or go fishing and think of him, and live a wonderful life. Everybody liked Michael, as he was a kind, good and honest man.

Michael is now reunited with his parents, Cynthia and Fredrick, and his son, Eddie, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; daughter Michelle and her husband George; son Brian and his wife Anne; daughter Pat and her husband Nick; daughter Sue and her husband Larry; daughter JoAnne; sister Susan and her husband Joe; brother Peter and his wife Susan; grandchildren Shannon, Kaley, Jamie, Sarah, Ashley, Kristen, Keith, Michael, Anjanette, Gina, Jason, Jeffrey and Craig; nieces Lorinda, Corrina, Anna, Allison and Lindsey; and great-grandchildren Christopher, Nicholas, Gage, Camryn, Jordan, Madison, Christian and Justin; and many relatives, neighbors and friends.

Memorial donations are welcome in Michael Chapman’s name to the American Heart Association, www.AmericanHeart.org.