Obituary of Carol Chapman

Carol Jean Chapman, 84, of Sterling, died Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after a well-fought and courageous battle with cancer. She was employed by Sterling Unit District 5, as a teacher, before retiring. Carol was born January 27, 1938, in Sterling, the daughter of Shirl and Helen (Sweigert) Michel. She was a graduate of Sterling High School (1956) and received her Bachelors in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University. Carol met the love of her life, Bill, during her first teaching job at East Coloma School in Rock Falls. They married on December 26, 1959 and recently celebrated 62 years of love and happiness…minus three arguments(LOL). Carol was a supportive Mom to her children and grandchildren in their many athletic and academic accomplishments, very active with friends playing tennis, playing cards, quilting and meeting with her “coffee” group, weekly. She will be remembered as a good friend to many, always pleasant, with a smile that lit up the room, and an educator who cared about her students’ successes. Survivors include her husband, Bill; two sisters, Shirley (Cliff) Dettman of Hillsboro, IL and Sandy (Clair) Furlong of Rockford, IL; two daughters, Teri (John) Valentine of Barrington, IL and Mindi (Mark) Van Zee of Lafayette, CO; one son, Will Chapman of Glen Ellyn, IL; 7 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Becki (Rick) Luckenbill. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 19 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sterling. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sterling Schools Foundation in Carol’s name, for the purpose of establishing a “Carol Chapman Scholarship” to be given to a deserving future graduate pursuing Education as a future career. Any donations can be mailed to: Sterling Schools Foundation, 2804 W. LeFevre Rd, Sterling, IL 61081.