Joan Elayne Chapin, 83
Joan Elayne Chapin, 83, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Percy and Flo Wintle. In her hurry to come into the world, Joan found herself delivered on the front steps of St. Paul’s Hospital. Born nine years after her siblings, Norma and Jerry, Joan became "the tagalong kid." She kept up with her siblings while growing up in their East End neighborhood and exploring the forests, rivers and ocean that surrounded the family cabin at Roberts Creek. "The Kid" became tall and athletic and excelled at many sports.
She also excelled at secretarial studies. As a young professional in the '60s and '70s, Joan was a striking and successful modern woman. Her fashionable hair, clothes and downtown lifestyle captivated her five nieces and nephews. She was the cool aunt. A day spent with Auntie Joan might include tea with French patisserie or a visit to a friend who had a pet monkey.
Joan’s secretarial abilities and her sense of adventure led her to a job at the fledgling Pattison Group of Companies. It was here she became assistant to Ross Turner, the subsequent CEO of Neonex, Seaspan, and Genstar Corporation, which Joan worked with for the rest of her career. In 1978, after a short hiatus in Montreal, Genstar moved their head office, with Joan, to San Francisco. The dashing pilot, Howard (Hud) Chapin aka Pappy, joined the company and he and Joan embarked on a new adventure. They were married in Montana after a day of ice fishing, and years later retired full time to their home on Whitefish Lake for many more years of forest adventures, happy hikes, snow skiing, swimming, Cessna adventures, and quite possibly thousands of cribbage games. Hud and Joan were well known around Whitefish for their antics on and off the golf course, and they will be missed by a handful of faithful friends in Whitefish, California, and Vancouver.
She is survived by her stepchildren, Lisa Chapin Hoxie and husband Cameron, Nikki Chapin Frizzell and husband Jim, and Hud Chapin III and wife Dawna. Her grandchildren, Collin Hoxie, Shannon Frizzell, Nathaniel Frizzell, Hud Chapin IV, and Camden Chapin will miss those sparkly blue eyes, quick wit, and incredible cooking. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews in Vancouver, Bob Batyi, Valerie Batyi Stubbs and husband Justin, Cheryl Batyi Ruiz and husband Jose, Ron Batyi Atkinson and husband Tim, Carol Batyi Banks and husband Dave.
Joan was a sophisticated and very kindhearted person who loved animals and never spoke ill of anyone. She spent her last decade at The Springs in Whitefish and passed there with Nikki by her side. There aren’t enough words to thank the team at The Springs for their years of excellent care and compassion and Enhabit Hospice for their skilled tenderness. Joan was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish in 2019, and it is with excitement and anticipation that her friends and family look forward to seeing that gorgeous smile again someday as we rejoice in the Lord together.
To send online condolences, please visit www.austinfh.com.