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Op-ed: We never really know or understand just how much we have lost until it’s too late (by Peter Children)

Justin Chapman died Thursday; he was at Charlie’s Auto on South Federal when he collapsed and was unable to be retrieved.  He was a luminous fixture in the city for decades; he was also everyone’s friend. He was your friend even if you didn’t know he was your friend.

With his passing a small part of North Iowa has also passed, his presence here was part and parcel of our city, he was part of the fabric that defined us and made this town real.

I personally knew the Chapman family for over sixty years; I knew Norman, his father and Lena his mother. I sat at their table and enjoyed many wonderful  meals; their home was elegant in a way that defined Lena; hand painted murals adorned the walls…painted directly onto the wall itself, the furniture bespoke of a family that once owned a furniture store in the city….a big furniture store at that.  Justin operated a photography studio above Gildner’s Clothing store on Federal Avenue.  His mother was a well known insurance sales lady here for years, and for a brief time Justine as well sold insurance.

Norman died first, then years later Lena followed.  After the death of his mother Justin seemed to have lost his footing, and as we who knew him well knew he never regained it.  His save “Len-Jus” was named after he and his mother Lena; the salve had merit but he lacked proper manufacturing facilities, he was therefore incapable of producing enough quantity to facilitate large orders that could accommodate chain stores. In effect he was cooking the ingredients on top of a stove.

To say he was “colorful” would be an understatement, he was much more than that. He was president of the Adas Israel Synagogue on North Adams. He was seeped in his faith and always kept it close to himself without imposing it on others.

His funeral was yesterday at Elmwood cemetery; all his pain has left him now, those aches and pains that afflict those of us who have left youth far behind, the frequent visits to the doctor, the pills that let you sleep are no longer needed.  There were four members of the Catholic faith present, one priest, one monsignor, and two nuns. Among them were a retired City Councilman, a doctor, and several other business men and everyday citizens who found their way to that small patch of land where Justin has now found eternal rest alongside those who waited patiently for him to join them.  In total there were close to fifty or more. I thought there would no  more than five, maybe six; instead it was a statement of pure affection and love for one of our own.

Justin is survived by his cousin, Mr. Jeffery Chapman, an attorney in Dallas, Texas. One more friendly smile has been extinguished in this city….and as always, we never really know or understand just how much we have lost until it’s too late, but let me assure you, I know…..

Peter Children

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