"Pri, Please accept our condolences for Lou's passing. We were friends for many years. He will surely be missed! Bob & Gail Green"
In loving memory of
LOU W. CHAPPELL
March 21, 1936 - February 14, 2022
Lou W. Chappell died on February 14, 2022. He was born on March 21, 1936, in Hancock, the son of Veronica (nee Cadeau) Fasana and Lloyd Chappell; brother of Dale (Debra) Fasana of Lake Linden, and Mary Jane "Jano" (Chappell) Johnson of Hancock, who survive him; father of Craig (Pennie Brugge) Chappell of L'Anse and Jonathan (Michelle Stuber) Chappell of Lake Orion, MI; grandfather of three amazing, talented and beloved young people, Conner, Catherine and Jack Chappell of Lake Orion; and best friend and spouse of Priscilla "Pri" (Scull) Burnham.
Lou is also survived by nieces and nephews on both the Chappell and Fasana sides of his family, and by Pri's siblings: David Scull of Sandy Spring, MD, Barbara Scull of Lititz, PA, and Jonathan (Sabrina Lavieri) Scull of West Simsbury, nephew Nathaniel Lavieri-Scull and niece Emily Lavieri-Scull, of NYC, all of whom have spent memorable vacations with Lou and Pri in Marquette.
Lou's parents divorced when he was young and they and their spouses predeceased him, as did two sisters (Linda Chappell and Kathleen Chappell), and brothers, Curt Chappell, all of Houghton/Hancock, and Frank Fasana, of Hawaii. Lou and his first wife and mother of his two sons, Laverne (Simenon) Chappell, of Michigamme, were married in 1957 and divorced in 1977, but continued their conversation and friendship until her death from cancer in 2003.
Lou always called himself a kid named "Billy Lou" from Dollar Bay, even though he made Marquette his home shortly after graduating from Houghton High School in 1955, following an inauspicious relationship with organized education in high school, during which he spent his time impersonating a juvenile delinquent and pursuing a dream to be the next James Dean, his idol and look-alike. One day, a kind, caring principal, Mr. Gaffney, put his arm around Lou when he was about to drop out of school, and gave him a second chance.
Lou was interested in social work, English, writing, economics, and explored all of them during his four years at Northern Michigan University, but his true calling was broadcasting, and after graduating from NMU, he turned that love into stints at several radio stations in Wisconsin, from which he got fired. But that led to his being hired by the new television station being launched in Marquette, WLUC-TV, and he spent some of his most rewarding years doing everything from building sets to reporting the weather and then the news, eventually becoming "the youngest general manager of a CBS affiliate," something that was a source of pride and lasting friendships but also some hard feelings and angst over corporate policies. His other claim to fame was a small speaking/drinking part in Anatomy of a Murder, which sadly did not lead to an Oscar for best supporting actor.
Always an innovator, entrepreneur and marketing maven, Lou took his love of broadcasting into the world of radio, starting Stereo 100, the first FM full service stereo station in Marquette, and then turning WDMJ into a community-oriented am radio station (some old-timers will remember the Great Snowman Contest, the Pumpkin-carving contest, the Fit Strip promotion, or the Chamber of Commerce competition which pitted Lou against Gene Chambers of the Mining Journal to see who could recruit the most new members).
Lou gave back to his adopted city through his involvement in many civic organizations, among them, the Acocks Board, the Ambassadors, the Economics Club, the MARS Board, and many others, before ending up in Lansing, first to attend Cooley Law School before going to work for the Michigan Department of Corrections as spokesperson and then Administrative Assistant to Warden Stine at Alger Max, retiring in 1998. He got bored and in 2008, honoring a promise he made to his father-in-law, took over Scull-Craft Calendars, a small business started by Pri's family in the 1930's.
One of the most rewarding experiences, and an organization that he loved promoting to anyone who would listen, was his work as a mediator with Marquette-Alger Resolution Services. The fellow mediators and Board members became trusted colleagues whose friendships endured beyond his tenure as a mediator. One of Lou's favorite quotations, from Senator George Mitchell of Maine, was tacked up on his office wall: "I formed the conviction that there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended. Conflicts are created, conducted and sustained by human beings; they can be ended by human beings."
Lou's lifetime loves included: motorcycles; being on the water (fishing, canoeing, kayaking); tramping in the woods (hunting, photography, chasing after partridge); spending time with his canine and feline "buds;" and sitting on the deck of the Magnetic Street house that he and Pri transplanted to "the north end of Woodland," binoculars in hand, watching the multitude of wildlife that populated their little "oasis of sanity."
He made many special, loyal friends - and some enemies - during his 85 years on this earth, but always hoped he contributed in some small way to making it a better place. To keep that aspiration going, his family would request that you consider donating to a favorite community organization (such as UPAWS, LWAS, the Women's Center, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, who were there for him and Pri to the very end, or a gift to the Bernard Gaffney Scholarship Fund c/o the Keweenaw Community Foundation, 236 Quincy St., Hancock, MI 49930) or commit to doing something to make sure Marquette continues to be "Someplace Special."
Lou's wife, Priscilla Burnham, and his family hope you will join us for an informal, come-as-you-are "Gathering" on Thursday, July 7, 2022, from 4-6 p.m. at the Presque Isle Pavilion, 3 Peter White Drive, Marquette. No matter whether you knew Lou well, casually, or by reputation only, we invite you (children, too) to stop by for refreshments, conversation, and some laughs and reminiscing.
Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the Chappell family where memories of Lou may be shared at canalefuneral.com.
Tributes
"There are places, times and people in every life that have a profound and lasting effect on the course of it. Lou was that person in that time and that place. A kid with no direction and little in the way of a future was brought to see the young ambitious GM of a small market television station on the chance of landing a summer job. I?d been in radio. For Lou that was enough. He gave me a job and when it was done he found me another. Lou was who caused me to adopt Marquette back in the early 70s. We rode bikes (motorcycles) and we loved radio. We never worked together again but in those days of all the people around him Lou would talk to me about the dream. A radio station. All these many years later I remember that guy talking with this kid about a dream. For both of us it turned out alright. Rest In Peace Lou. "
"Dear Pri and family, I so feel your loss and send my deepest condolences. This gentle giant stole my heart throughout the many years I was employed at VAST. Such a special treat each and every time he came in or called. We had many laughs together. He is now riding his cycle or scooter through the golden gates. Have a great ride buddy, you will be missed. "
"Many years ago Lou?s and my friend Stu was running for office and he asked us both to serve on his committee. That was when I met Lou. He was wonderful and I felt so honored to be able to alongside him. I rarely saw him after our group disbanded but I look back and feel lucky I was able to work by his side. What a fine man!!! It was an honor! "
"Pri, I offer my deepest condolences on Lou?s passing. I was lucky enough to work for Lou in the 80s and that several years together made a huge difference in my life. I learned so much from our long conversations about, well, just about everything. He was a mentor to me and a friend. He pushed me to be better in so many ways and he had a special way of offering encouragement and praise that made me, and I am sure others, feel very special. I had so much respect and admiration for Lou and all he accomplished and I am sure he will be missed greatly by you and the family. Dale Hemmila"
"My sincere condolences to Pricilla and all of the family. Lou was such a gentleman who always was available for conversation and advice. I know he is in Heaven with God and I pray the family cherishes all the memories he gave so many of us. Rest In Peace my friend. ????????"