William P. 'Oscar' Chapman

Oct. 29, 1938 - Feb. 26, 2009

TRENTON -- William P. "Oscar" Chapman died Thursday (Feb. 26, 2009) at his home in rural Trenton, Neb., at the age of 70.

He was born Oct. 29, 1938, at Trenton the son of the late Harvey and Florence (Blue) Chapman. William grew up at Trenton where he graduated from Trenton High School, where he lettered all four years in the following sports: in football as a defensive safety and halfback, basketball as a guard and a sprinter in track. During Oscar's senior year, the basketball team was unbeaten until they lost in the final regional game. They were one of the teams favored to win the class C state tournament.

Oscar began working for the CB & Q Railroad in January 1958. On May 24, 1958, William married Leola Ellen Brixner at Trenton. Oscar worked in the signal crews until promoted to craftsman work in the system engineering office. CB & Q was merged into Burlington Northern in 1970 and he worked as a special agent in the Chicago Division. In 1973, he transferred to the signal engineer officer as a signal designer. In 1984, he transferred to the Seattle region engineering office. He later transferred to the Arden Hills, Minnesota Northern Region signal office. He was the crossing signal engineer and retired in 1994. They moved back to Trenton in 1995.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Leola on Aug. 17, 2005.

He is survived by one son, Kenneth Chapman of Hastings, Minn.; two daughters, Sandra Ehrfeld Chapman of Fort Atkinson, Wis., and Kimberly Chapman of Marysville, Wash.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, James Chapman and wife, Beverly and Thomas and wife, Detta; sisters, Floretta (Tyke) and husband, D.H. (Hans) Thomsen, Catherine (Bid) and husband, Glenn Reiners, Patricia and husband, Wayne Lafferty, Barbara and husband, Bob Pantenburg and Shirley (Pud) and Tom Rine.

Memorial services will be 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Church of God in Trenton with the Rev. Johnny Walker officiating. There will be no burial following the service.

Memorials may be given in his name and sent to Herrmann Funeral Home in Trenton.

Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.