Wendell H. Chappell

Lyman, Utah - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Wendell Holden Chappell, age 88, of Lyman, passed away August 5, 2015 in Centerfield, after a long, active life of hard work, love and service. He was the rock and foundation of our family and will be greatly missed. Wendell was born September 9, 1926 in Lyman, Utah, a son of William Lamont and Lenora Belle Cook Chappell. He was the thirteenth child of fourteen children, losing six of his siblings in infancy. His father taught him to be a cowboy and took him riding all over the mountains, bareback of course, and he knew every inch of them. He especially loved Thousand Lake Mountain. He grew up learning the great value of hard work, along with his love for fishing, hunting and playing basketball. Wendell graduated from Wayne High school, Class of 1944, and went on to Snow College in Ephraim, but was drafted into the army in March of 1945. He was first row of the occupation troops to enter Tokyo, Japan, after the war. Wendell's kind and loving soul was heart sick with the destruction and starvation he saw. Wendell says of his time in the service, "We honored our flag twice everyday and learned to appreciate our great country. I don't claim to have done anything. I just put in my time and this great country is welcome to my time." Wendell love his home and never wanted to leave Lyman after he returned from the war. He married Burla Shurtz on February 22, 1949 in the Manti LDS Temple and they made their home in Lyman. Together, they raised four children. Wendell loved his farm and worked hard to take care of it and his family. He served valiantly in the LDS Church and in the community. He enjoyed being a lifetime member of the American Legion, where he served as Chaplain for many years; Wayne County Commissioner and Wayne County Sheriff, a position he held with honor as his father and grandfather were also sheriff of Wayne County. Wendell served, alongside his wife, Burla, a work mission in Albert Canada, but his most rewarding and enjoyable times were spent working in the Manti Temple for 8 years, being an assistant supervisor and then supervisor. His pride and joy was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved his family get togethers and never left without singing, "Hail, hail, the gang's all here". Wendell is survived by his beloved wife, Burla of Lyman; children: Beth and Kirtley Jensen, Alice and Bruce Christenson, all of Gunnison; Douglas Chappell of High Level, Alberta, Canada; Jeanette and Dan Taylor of Bicknell; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son-in-law: Joe L Christensen; his parents; 9 brothers and 4 sisters: William LaVon Chappell, Nora Lefollen Chappell, Geneva Belle Chappell, Wanda LaVell Chappell, David Grant Chappell, Lloyd Bybee Chappell, Woodrow Chappell, Farrell Lamont Chappell, Austin Whitney Chappell, Olive Beth Chappell, Kennard Dean Chappell, Merrill Joshua Chappell, and George Newell Chappell. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Lyman LDS Ward Chapel, where friends may call for viewing Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Tuesday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Harold Brown American Legion Post #92 and the Utah honor Guard will be in the Lyman Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.