Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER TWO
STETTLER, ALBERTA
January 9, 2013
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
Hundreds salute ‘courageous’ Chapman ‘We are all going to miss him,’ says Stettler Legion executive L ES S TULBERG Independent reporter The Stettler community hall was filled to capacity Saturday as mourners paid their fi n a l r e s p e c t s t o J a c k Chapman, a man some people described as “larger than life.” An estimated 700 people attended the funeral of the revered Second World War veteran. Chapman, 92, was one of Stettler’s few remaini n g ve t e r a n s . H e d i e d on New Year’s Day in a farm-related accident on his farm, which he operated southeast of Stettler with his wife Madeleine. Stettler Fire and Rescue reported this w e e k t h a t f i r e c r ew s assisted Stettler EMS l a s t Tu e s d a y m o r n i n g “in removing a patient trapped under farm machinery.” Chapman was a lifelong resident of the Stettler area, except for his wartime years. “He was courageous, had strong convictions and was not known to h o l d b a c k ,” l o n g t i m e friend Lorne Thurston said of Chapman. “He was a loyal friend.” Chapman was a prisoner of war in the Dieppe Raid at France in August 1942. He not only survived that t h r e e - y e a r o r d e a l , bu t his comrades also credited him for saving their lives with his “bravery, resourcefulness and charm.” A t t h e f u n e r a l s e rvice, Thurston and his wife Kathy were among those who paid tribute to Chapman. Thurston spent more than 37 years with C h a p m a n i n S t e t t l e r ’s Branch No. 59 of the Royal Canadian Legion. He said his proudest moment was to walk with “a true hero — Jack Chapman.”
Owner escapes shop fire RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter
For many Stettlerarea residents, Chapman and the Legion seemed synonymous. The highly visible war hero rarely missed a Legion function since returning home from the war when it ended in 1945. Not only was he i nvo l v e d i n t h e l o c a l branch, but he was active nationally and travelled abroad. “He had a strong, positive influence o n Ve t e r a n A f f a i r s ,” Thurston said. Chapman was a perennial favourite to speak at Remembrance Day services and to students of all ages. He was active in the poppy campaign. He was described as being a storyteller — of real-life stories — and often shared his wartime experiences. Chapman delighted in giving young students a Canadian flag on Canada Day. Thurston said C h a p m a n b e l i ev e d i n helping his community and was a volunteer with rodeos, sports, the agricultural society and as a longtime parade marshal. Thurston summed up Chapman’s strong-willed character as “a fighter,” saying he survived the war, the loss of a child and many illnesses. One of the mourners Saturday said Chapman was a Stettler standout. “If we ever had a local hero, it was Jack,” she said. “It really was.” Ken Cherewko, pastpresident of the Stettler b r a n c h o f t h e L eg i o n , r e c a l l e d C h a p m a n ’s influence on the branch. “He had the answers,” Cherewko said. He said Chapman was always available for advice and was willing to share his opinion. Cherewko said Chapman held every position in the local Legion and was the first
vice-president in the national organization. “He kept Stettler updated.” Cherewko said C h a p m a n h a d n ’t b e e n active in the regular dayto-day operations of the Stettler Legion in recent years. “He left that to us younger ones. He still took part in major funct i o n s , l i ke D e c o r a t i o n Day at Gadsby. “We are all going to miss him.” O n e o f C h a p m a n ’s neighbours, Ron Scheerschmidt, said Chapman died doing what he enjoyed — feeding his cattle. “I’ve known Jack all my life and he definitely didn’t want to waste away in a nursing home — he went the way he wanted.” Scheerschmidt said Chapman actively farmed in his advanced years, with the help of his wife, and had just purchased a few more cows. He remembered Chapman as being an early riser. “ H e wa s a lwa y s u p way before the birds,” said Scheerschmidt, who also recalled Chapman’s determination. “He wouldn’t let go until it was accomplished.” He said getting public wa s h r o o m s i n S t e t t l e r and renaming 50 Avenue “ Ve t e r a n s ’ Wa y ” w e r e just a couple of those accomplishments. “He was a charact e r o f h i s ow n — h e was a good neighbour,” Scheerschmidt said. Along with his wife, Chapman is survived by three sons, Dan (Linda) Chapman, Jim Chapman ( Wi n n i e L i t v a k ) a n d Lee (Sarah) Chapman; two daughters, Marnie (Clark) Hoskins and Kim (Kelsey) Hoetmer; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Photos contributed and by LES STULBERG/Independent reporter
Stettler-area farmer Jack Chapman, who died last week at age 92, was one of the region’s few remaining Second World War veterans. The Canadian flag at Stettler’s Branch No. 59 of the Royal Canadian Legion has been lowered in his memory.
Stettler’s New Year’s baby ‘surprised us’ RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter A Coronation couple came to Stettler last Tuesday to give birth to the first baby born in east-central Alberta in 2013. Brody Donald McLean was born at
10:13 a.m. Tuesday, New Year’s Day, to Amber Buniak and Ryan McLean. He weighed in at eight pounds and seven ounces at the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre. “We weren’t sure if we would have the Christmas baby or New Year’s baby,”
With his clothing in flames, a Stettler-area automotive business operator escaped without injuries after he fled a fire that destroyed his shop just south of Stettler last Wednesday night. “My coveralls were on fire and my hair was singed and I rolled in the snow and phoned 911,” said Darcy Wright, the owner of Darcy’s Auto Repairs, located on Township Road 38-4. The shop went up in flames shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday. (See ‘Historic tools’ on Page A6) RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
New Year’s baby Brody Donald McLean of Coronation was photographed at the Stettler hospital with his mother, Amber Buniak, father Ryan McLean and four-year-old sister Zoe. At left is Amber’s sister, Rena Tiemstra of Wetaskiwin and Tiemstra’s daughter, Emily.
Amber said last Wednesday from her hospital room. “We were actually due on Dec. 20, so we were overdue.” A brother for four-year-old Zoe and Mason, 20 months, the newborn is also a grandson for Don and Leanne McLean of Coronation and Joe and Lilly Buniak of Dapp. “We never planned to have the New Year’s baby,” said Ryan, who raises race horses and, in the winter, also works as an electrician. “Everyone in the family is really excited about this child.” Amber’s sister, Rena Tiemstra of Wetaskiwin, was among the well-wishers at the Stettler hospital last week. “I drove in the middle of the night to come here,” she said. Amber’s other sister, Melissa Smith of Legal, also travelled to the region for a brief visit. Some members of the extended family wanted the new baby to be a girl, because the father comes from a family of four sons and the mother has three older sisters and one younger brother. “He surprised us,” Ryan said. “He’s a boy — we don’t get to choose.” While the parents hadn’t fully decided to have more children, at least one of Amber’s sisters believes at least one more child is coming. “She has always said she wants to have four,” Tiemstra said. While expectant mothers in the area often go to hospital in Provost to deliver their children, the Coronation couple chose to go to Stettler, where Ryan’s sister, Holly McLean, works.
Readers can also find the Stettler Independent at stettlerindependent.com