William “Earl” Chapman, resident of Ridgevalley Seniors Home, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Valleyview Hospital, at the age of 78 years.

Earl was born to William and Ruth Chapman in Grande Prairie, AB on September 12, 1945, and raised on the farm in Crooked Creek, AB. He attended Ridgevalley School and continued his studies at Alberta College in Edmonton, AB.

At the age of 18 Earl joined his brothers and friends in the oil patch. It was the beginning of a long career in the industry starting as a Roughneck with Parker Drilling and quickly working his way up to Tool Push with Sedco Drilling. Earl eventually started his own consulting firm “Dawn International Supervision” providing oilfield expertise to many companies around the world.

Earl married his high school sweetheart, Dawn Peterson in 1967, and soon moved his young family to Iran. Four years later he returned to Alberta and eventually back to the farm in Crooked Creek. He continued in the oil patch, working across western Canada and around the world while farming on his days at home. As his consulting career grew, Earl worked in many countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The oilfield provided numerous adventures including one of his rigs being bombed by the Iraqi Armed Forces in the ’70s, and daily US Air Force friendly flybys as he helped to reestablish wells in Kuwait in the ’90s. Earl brought Dawn to join him in several different countries as he worked, and they enjoyed many exotic vacation adventures together. He eventually retired from the oil patch after 45 years and was happy to fill his time plowing dirt and combining swathes for Farmer Klassen. He also liked collecting vintage machinery and was proud of his antique cars and tractors.

Earl became “Pa” after the arrival of his four beloved grandchildren. Pa believed in the value of education and loved that he could provide post-secondary opportunities for his children and grandchildren. He was always interested to hear about what was going on in their lives and was so proud of their accomplishments. Pa also shared his interest in travel with the whole family and enjoyed taking them on vacations around the world.

Pa was a quiet, generous man who loved to joke and laugh. He had a special fondness for pets, especially dogs, and was a longtime Oiler’s fan.

Pa will be forever loved and missed by Dawn, his wife of 57 years; son Gordon (Tina); and daughter Penny (Bevar) Rose; Grandchildren Christen Rose (Brittany Cairns), Cairo Chapman (Jake McCue), Alina Rose (Logan Dobko) and Sydney Chapman (Josh Seto). He also leaves to mourn his passing his younger brother Greg; sisters and brothers-in-law and their families; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews; As well, Earl has life-long friends and former workmates both here at home and around the world who will greatly miss him.

Earl was predeceased by his parents Bill and Ruth, Dawn’s parents Earl and Sheila Peterson, and his brothers Percy and Lee.

Dawn and the family would like to thank the Ridgevalley Seniors home for their six years of loving care of Pa and greatly appreciate the wonderful personal attention and most compassionate care from the Valleyview Hospital staff.

A celebration of Earl’s life will take place at the farm near the end of June 2025.

If you wish, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Earl.