John Edward Chapman passed away peacefully in his longtime hometown of Redwood City, California on April 22, 2025. He was 87.

He was an engineer, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend and member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish.

John was born in Los Angeles, CA to Dorothy Marie and Edward Henry Chapman and grew up taking care of his younger siblings while his father served in WWII. He was president of the first graduating class of San Gabriel High School and an Eagle Scout. He served four years in the US Navy before completing his studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It was there, while John was studying mechanical engineering, that he met and fell in love with Anne Miller.

The two married in 1962, spending 62 years together building a family and forging deep ties with their friends, church and broader community.

John valued family and he and Anne were blessed with a big one. In 1968, John and Anne settled in Redwood City raising six children and becoming active in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, the Boy Scouts and community sports and music programs. John was a devoted outdoorsman and took his family on camping trips throughout the West every summer, imparting his love of and respect for nature.

John was an engineer at both Hussman Refrigeration and TriCom Refrigeration, designing and building everything from refrigerated warehouses to wineries. Over the course of his career, he traveled from the Middle East to the Philippines, leaving behind the modern miracle of food refrigeration and taking with him an appreciation for other cultures he shared with his children.

Upon retiring in 1998, John and Anne built their dream cabin in Lake Almanor, California creating a joyful gathering spot, which, like their Redwood City home, was frequently filled with music, laughter and lively conversation. John loved meeting new people almost as much as he cherished his many existing decades-long friendships. John and Anne traveled widely and especially enjoyed cruising, with the Panama Canal being among his favorites. John was a great enthusiast of the outdoors and an avid reader. He especially enjoyed stories about cowboys and the Old West. He loved being a dad, father-in-law and grandfather, impressing his motto "Work is Fun" to his offspring and their friends whenever there was a project to complete or a hard task ahead.


John was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013. He is survived by his beloved wife Anne Chapman and brother Tom Chapman (Eileen). John is also survived by five children; Carole Chapman, Bill Chapman (Lizette), Cathy Chapman, Debbie Willitts (Greg) and Dan Chapman (Danielle Fernandez) and seven grandchildren; Zoe Falk, Sean Willitts (Hannah), Zenaida Chapman, Gunnar Chapman, Brody Chapman, Noelani Chapman and Lilikoi Chapman.


John was preceded in death by Edward Chapman (son), Gabriel Willitts (grandson). Nancy MacDuckston (sister) (Bruce) and Helen Chapman (sister).


Rosary will be held May 8 at Crippen & Flynn in Woodside at 6:00 PM with a visitation starting at 5:00 PM 400 Woodside Rd., Redwood City, CA


The funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Redwood City on May 9 at 1:00 PM 300 Fulton St., Redwood City, CA Military honors will be given prior to the Mass at 12:30 PM.


Donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Scouting America, or our Lady of Mount Carmel church or school.