Harold Wakenshaw Chapman passed away at Hamilton General Hospital on Sunday May 21, 2017, at the age of 79 following complications from brain surgery. He spent his final hours surrounded by Nancy Schmidt, his wife of 32 years, their children Ben and Sam Chapman-Schmidt, his first wife Sandra Sutherland, and their children Nick and Amanda Chapman.
Harold was born March 30, 1938 in South Africa, where he spent his childhood. He moved to Australia in 1957, where he completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, then to the US in 1963, where he completed his PhD in physiology, before he finally found a country to call home in Canada in 1969. He spent the last 32 years of his life in Guelph, Ontario, where he taught generations of vets their craft at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.
He was a bread maker, birder, lover of books, gardener, canoe voyager, storyteller and traveler who gave freely of his time and friendship.
Family will receive friends at the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph on Sunday, June 4, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. A celebration to commemorate Harold's life will follow at 2:00 p.m.
If so desired, donations in Harold's memory made to Bird Studies Canada would be appreciated. Donations and condolences may be sent online, at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com