Scott Chapman, of Chelsea, Michigan was peacefully healed into eternal life on November 17, 2021 while home with his wife, Angela, by his side. He was surrounded by love, affection, and affirmations of Christ’s promises, mercy, and grace.
Scott was born on April 27, 1963 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Larry and Shirley Chapman and was raised in his beloved hometown of Chelsea, Michigan. He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1981 where he played varsity football and was a drummer in the band. Scott was known to his high school friends as someone who was bigger than life, someone who could connect with others with great ease on a very personal and deep level.
Scott majored in business and minored in journalism at Central Michigan University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985. He went on to establish himself in the automotive industry as a leader of product sales and growth of small to midsize companies seeking new business opportunities both domestically and internationally. He had a successful career at Johnson Controls for ten years before moving on to Virtual Engineering, where he became Vice President of Sales and spent the next twenty-five years of his career.
Scott remained a bachelor before meeting the love of his life, Angela, in July 2003. The couple married on December 18, 2004 and have enjoyed extensive travel around the globe, including multiple safaris in Africa, Europe, North and South America, hundreds of days at sea, and the company of dear friends along the way. His feet trekked all 50 states and five continents. When Scott was not traveling, his favorite place was being at home with Angela and beloved kitties Tiger and Katarina by his side.
Scott was an avid hunter and conservationist. He dedicated countless hours to global advocacy and became a leader in the field, volunteering much of his spare time to the causes that were so important to him. Scott served on the board of the Flint Regional Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) for seven years and was President from 2004-2006. He served on the international SCI Board of Directors from 2004-2021 and was the 50,000 member organization’s 39th President (2020-2021). Scott was recognized for his extensive service to the organization along the way including receiving the SCIF Sables Person of the Year Award in 2013, the SCI Outstanding Member of the Year Award in 2014, and the SCI Hall of Fame Award in 2021.
Scott was an incredible chef and loved sharing the harvest with friends and family. He was truly adept at hunting and gathering from the field and preparing tremendous wild game dinners for those he loved. Scott also enjoyed using his sportsmanship towards hunger contributions, notably in 2020 when he harvested a Nebraska bison and donated it to multiple soup kitchens in concert with the SCI Iowa Chapter, which provided approximately 400 pounds of ground bison or 1600 meals to those in need.
Scott fought through his illness with incredible positivity and strength and fully appreciated every day he was given. He continued to plan adventures with his wife both domestically and abroad at a staggering pace, despite the challenges he endured. He hunted in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain just two months before his passing and extended the trip to include both time in the city and on the Mediterranean Coast. Friends hosted hunts for Scott at their personal hunting camps in Texas in October and in Mississippi in November. And Scott spent a glorious fall Michigan day in the field with two friends just ten days before his passing.
Scott did not let any challenge stop him from pursuing his dreams. In fact, he fought that much harder to make it happen as he faced more adversity. Scott is an inspiration to all who know him. He encouraged others with his personal testimony. He has taught us to live, to love, and to give of yourself more fully than your mind and heart could ever imagine.
Scott is survived by his loving wife, Angela, father, Larry Chapman, sister, Julia (Daniel) Sivinski, mother-in-law, Florence DeWitt, brother-in-law, David DeWitt, and nephew, Airman Apprentice Justin DeWitt, E2, U.S. Navy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Chapman, and father-in-law, Wayne DeWitt.
Funeral service followed by a luncheon will be held on Monday, November, 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Chelsea, 121 E. Middle Street, Chelsea, MI 48118. Attendees are requested to wear masks. Live streaming of the service will be available on the church’s website at chelseafcc.com.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the First Congregational Church of Chelsea or to the SCIF Conservation Fund in memory of Scott Chapman, 4800 W. Gates Pass Road, Tucson, AZ 85745.
