Dr. Jean Chapman

Dr. Jean Allen Chapman, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, March 23, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born April 18, 1928, to Vernon A. and Gertrude Smith Chapman at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Chapman attended Southeast Missouri State University's Campus School in Cape Girardeau and graduated from Central High School in 1946. He received his bachelor of science degree from Southeast University in 1949, a bachelor of science in medicine and a master's in anatomy from the University of Missouri in 1951 and his medical doctorate from Washington University School of Medicine in 1953.

His medical internship and residency were at St. Louis City Hospital. He served as general medical officer at Hamilton AFB, Calif., from 1954 to 1956.

He came to Cape Girardeau in 1959 and helped establish Internal Medicine Group. Certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology in 1974, he was in private practice until 1997. Dr. Chapman was clinical assistant professor at SIU School of Medicine from 1988 to 1997 and assistant in clinical medicine at Washington University School of Medicine from 1953 to 1954. In 1995 he was awarded the honor as master of American College of Physicians.

A member of numerous medical organizations, including Missouri State Medical Association and American Medical Association, he served as president of Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society, Missouri State Allergy Association, American Association of Certified Allergists, and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

He had a lectureship named for him by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology from 1998 to 2000. Of his many committee assignments in life, from 2000 to 2004 Dr. Chapman served on the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and chaired the committee that wrote the guidelines for food allergies. From 1979 to 1998 he served as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Technical Advisory Committee for the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational Technical School. A former chief of staff, he was an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of Southeast Missouri Hospital and was currently serving on the board of Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

He received many professional awards and honors including, Distinguished Fellow of the ACAAI, Internist of the Year, Missouri Chapter of American Society of Internal Medicine, Laureate Award, Missouri Chapter, American College of Physicians, Citizenship and Community Service Award from Missouri State Medical Association, and the Outstanding Service Award from Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees.

Locally, Dr. Chapman was one of the founders and a former president of Doctors' Park. He helped established the cable television program and hosted "Ask Your Doctor." He served as president of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and received the Otto F. Dingeldein Award in 2002. He served as a volunteer for the Professional Division Fundraising for Area Wide United Way.

A lover and supporter of the arts, he grew up with the desire to be an artist. All through life, he continued to draw, paint, and do sculpture and pottery until he was no longer physically able. Dr. Chapman always continued to encourage others to grow their talent.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Nona Nan; a daughter, Jennifer Jean Albertina (Ray) of Glen Carbon, Ill.; a son, Christopher Paul Rudy Chapman (Mary) of Columbus, Ind.; two stepdaughters Ramelle Lipps Sarna (Richard) of Elmhurst, Ill., Lisa Lipps Bratina (George) of Toledo, Wash.; a brother, Vernon A. Chapman, Jr. of Paducah, Ky.; and four grandchildren, Emily Anne Albertina, Mary Grace Fisher, Nicholas Christopher Bratina and Aaron Christian Bratina.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Patricia Anne Medcalf.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Private burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

The family request memorials directed to Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Southeast Missouri Orchestra Fund, First Presbyterian Church or Chateau Girardeau Foundation.