Obituary of Arthur Donald Chapinski

Arthur Donald Chapinski, 83, of Olympia, WA passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2014. Born April 22, 1931, in South Milwaukee, he was the third son of Stanley and Ena (Lyon) Chapinski. At a young age, the family moved to Sterling, IL, where he and his five siblings grew up. As a child he enjoyed many visits to the dairy farm of his grandparents, John and Francie Pelot Czlapinski in Wisconsin. At 16 he went to live and work for a young dairy farmer and his wife, milking cows morning and evening, going to school and bucking hay bales that often weighed more than he did. He then joined the U.S. Army. After only three years of service, Arthur was chosen by his Cpt. to receive training as a medical professional. Assigned to the 101st Airborne he provided medical care for wounded soldiers during the Korean War. He literally travelled the world and worked at many Army Stations including: Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Sam Houston, Umatilla Chemical Depot, the American Embassy in Vienna, Germany and Fort Lewis. Sgt. Chapinski was awarded a commendation for achievement as the 12th Field Hospital Soldier of the Month at Fort Leonard Wood. He graduated from the U.S. Army Special Warfare School. It was at Fort Lewis, where he was in charge of the emergency room on the evening shift, that he met his first wife, Carol Eileen Banker. They were married on November 19, 1966. After returning home from Germany, Arthur retired from the United States Army on June 1, 1968. Shortly thereafter their daughter Carrie Ellen Chapinski was born. In 1968 he began his second career at Washington State Correction Center. In July 1979 Arthur earned his certificate to engage in the practice of medicine as a PAC from the University of Washington. He retired from the Washington State Department of Corrections after 23 years of service. In 1999 he met Bertie Balliet and they were married on July 7, 2001. They made their home in Olympia where they enjoyed retired life together. Throughout his life, he enjoyed gardening, camping, traveling, ballroom dancing, Hand and Foot (canasta) group, watching the news, and he was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. There was nothing more that he loved more than a party with his friends and great food. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. He was involved with local community activities including taking calls from constituents at the Senior Hot Line. He assisted at Stream Team/RSVP restoration projects for salmon habitat in the Olympia area by registering volunteers and acting as a medical liaison. Arthur and Lue Clarkson delivered meals during the holidays to the elderly and families in need for Barb's Family and Friends program. He assisted fund-raising events at the Olympia Elks Club Lodge No. 186, such as hamburger lunches, steak dinners, and Christmas dinners for American Lake veterans. He volunteered as a reading buddy for Mrs. Larson's first graders and Pleasant Glade Elementary School. In the words of Arthur, "Volunteering is a 'share and care' and I feel I am returning some good back to the community for my good fortune." He was preceded in death by his first wife Carol, his parents, and his brothers Robert and Leo Chapinski. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 14 years, Bertie; daughter, Carrie Chapinski (Jeremy Ragan), Shelton; son, Denny Clift, Cedar Rapids, IA; sisters Dolores Iverson (Floyd), Grayling, MI; Rosemary Pizarro (Tony), Rock Falls, IL, Patricia Chapinski, Rock Island, IL; stepchildren, Patricia Curtis, Tumwater; Michael Beyer (Tami Lester), Olympia; Elizabeth Beyer, Vancouver; Anne Balliet Snyder, Centralia; granddaughters Alex Snyder, Centralia; Leigh Meyer-Beyer, Vancouver; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be at 11:00am Saturday, September 13, 2014, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Avenue, Olympia, WA, followed by a luncheon at the church. A graveside burial with military honors will be held at 2:30pm, at Shelton Memorial Park. Arthur was generous with his hear and made numerous contributions to many individuals, Disabled Veterans, USO, as well as charities including Cal Farley's Children's Ranch for 35 years. Contributions to Cal Farley's in lieu of flowers in his honor would be appreciated. Cal Farley, PO Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174 (www.calfarley.org).