Jacques Gaston Chappuis passed away December 17, 2022, released from his battle with Alzheimer’s. He was welcomed home by his parents, Gaston and Flore Lahon Chappuis. Born April 11, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah, he grew up in Salt Lake Avenues District where he excelled in academics and sports. He spoke French as an infant, learning English from his neighbor Kathryn Barnes and in kindergarten. He enjoyed playing tennis with his father, church basketball, marksmanship achievements in ROTC, and trips to national parks with famed Scout Master Robert Barnes and Troop 18. These trips nurtured a legendary, lifelong love of the national parks, especially Yellowstone and his beloved Arches, which he was introduced to for the first time in 1955 by Bob Barnes.
He was proud of his Swiss-Belgian heritage and his French language skills, which he utilized on his three-year LDS French-East Mission, where his knowledge of French was very useful. He had a great affection for his mission president, Hank Moyle, Jr. On his return, he served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War, again using his French language skills with intelligence translation work. He earned a bachelor’s degree in banking & finance from the University of Utah and a master’s at the University of Oklahoma. His banking and commercial lending career progressed through Walker Bank, First Interstate Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, First Security Bank, ending with the Bank of Utah. He served as President of Sugarhouse Rotary and the Sugarhouse Chamber of Commerce, where he was instrumental in obtaining city approvals for and development of the Sugarhouse shopping center.
In 1966 he married Carma Kirby in the Salt Lake Temple. They welcomed eight children into their marriage. They resided in the Salt Lake Avenues District, Canyon Rim, Ogden, and in Holladay neighborhoods where Jacques served as Scout Master numerous times, including three National Boy Scout Jamborees. He achieved his Eagle Scout and was very proud and deserving of his Silver Beaver Award. His church service included many positions, including service in the bishopric, but he was most fond of serving with the youth and his 12 years’ service teaching family home evening lessons at the Utah State Prison. He was an avid participant and referee in many church ball activities and had a great love of University of Utah football. His voice was ‘generously shared’ with all spectators, and his enthusiastic commentary resulted in expulsion from several church ball games. It was his great joy to take people to Arches, especially his children. He enjoyed hiking and fishing with his grandchildren and sharing fish stories with his good friend Arlen Ekberg.
Over the past few years he experienced increasing memory difficulty, and was cared for by his devoted wife until October, when he moved to a memory care facility where he received excellent care and attention for his last two months. With the adoption of Angela in 1985, Jacques, Carma, and all of the children were adopted into the family of Jerry and Lela Cahill. It has been a lasting and loving relationship. We are sure Jacques was greeted by Jerry Cahill, along with Carma’s parents, Harold and Ethel Kirby. For a moment only French was spoken in heaven as his mother and father, Gaston and Flora Chappuis, greeted him.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carma, and his children: David (Marlo), Michael (Laurie), Bryce (Jen), Brett (Jeni), Shari Reid, Nora, Juan, and Angela; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters Jeanne Robson and Flora (Harry) Barker; as well as many extended family members. We are grateful to Aubrey, Sarah, and Sherrie of Elevation Hospice for their loving care of Jacques and their support of Carma, and to the staff of Spring Gardens Memory Care and its bishopric and their wives for their loving care and many kindnesses.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 27, at noon, preceded by a viewing from 10:30 to 11:45 AM, at the Olympus Third Ward, 4100 S. Camille Street (4100 S. 2400 E.), Holladay, followed by burial at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 E. 1300 S., Salt Lake City.
I was in the French East mission a few years latter. I met him fixing his garage door and I've said for years that his name was the perfect French name. I loved saying his full name. Stephen J Burr, Arrow Garage Door... still working at 74.
I love Jacques Chapuis. He was a remarkable youth leader. You always knew he loved you and cared about you.
I always enjoyed my talks with Jacques about sports and especially baseball cards.
Je vous prie de bien vouloir accepter mes sincères condoléances.
Carma - I was so sorry to read of the death of your husband. My love and condolences to you and your family. I would love to get together with you and catch up on all the time since we last saw each other, however, I moved to Missouri five years ago and doubt that I will ever get back to Utah. Reading the obituary, it sounds as if you've had a great life and that your husband was a remarkable man. If you get a moment give me a call at (801)898-3888 or email me at linras16@yahoo.com.
Mr. Chappuis was a genuine, selfless and fine man. He meant so much to so many. He will always hold a special place in my heart. My my most sincere condolences to the Chappuis family.
I have many fond memories of Brother Chappuis. He was a great guy! I'm so sorry for your loss.
Jeanne, Carma, Angie, and family, What a great man! My heart and thoughts are with you all. - one of "Gaby's Girls"
Jeanne, sending heartfelt condolences at the passing of your brother. It will be a joyful reunion one day. Until then, surround yourself in the love of your loved ones on this side of the veil.
Sending love to Jeanne and Flora. Such a flood of sweet memories came as I read Jacques' obituary. What an amazing man. Please know how dear you all are to the Stoneman family. Very grateful that life does not end here. May God bless and comfort you all at this difficult time.
We were so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband, and father. He will be missed by all.
Hang on to all those good memories.
Sincerely, Jay and Marilyn Greenwood
Carma and Family, It is with deep sorrow that I saw the obituary today. My association with Jacques spans so many years where Jacque was the banker for my business and in Rotary. Our company followed Jacque wherever he landed because his relationship built our business into a thriving entity that it is today. My business partner always insisted on having Jacques. He always told me that one of the most important things for success is to have a great relationship at the bank.
In our business relationship, we were part and parcel of the Winter Olympic Games for 2002 and I think Jacques told me his stories a dozen times of serving as a French speaking driver for the officials during the games.
At Rotary, Jacques was a constant aid and support to me. When I was asked to be President of the Sugar House Rotary Club in 2005, Jacques made it clear to me what a responsibility this would be. He also made it clear to my business partners that I needed to represent our firm properly. Jacques was a tremendous resource to our club when we sponsored the Chili Open. He assisted with all the financial controls of handling between $200,000 to $300,000 in charitable contributions each year.
On a personal note, my mother attended Rotary with me and met Jacques. I was speechless when all of a sudden they were best friends. My mother happened to be Gaston's personal secretary at Union Pacific Railroad during World War II. Gaston was in charge of troop movements on the railroad at that time.
Lastly we were having dinner with Jacques at our fellow Rotarian's home on Avenue B several years ago. Jacque just happened to mention that he had grown up living next door. What a small world.
The world was better with Jacques in it and we will miss him.
Carma, sorry to hear of your loss. Having had Dian pass, I know of how we miss our loved ones.
My prayers are with you.
David Bagley
Carma - My older 3 children who knew Jacques well let me know of his passing. I am so sorry as I remember many times together (even though many years now divorced) ward and also great times with you and Jacques at events, bring great memories of you both at the ward in our respective positions over many years. It has been a long time and I send you my heartfelt condolences knowing it is difficult, but also Jacques is with those he also loved that were waiting for him. Caring for someone with memory loss I went through with my own mother and the daily efforts of care, unless personally gone through with a loved one, no one realizes the strength and care required. I know that you will be blessed and having been a friend with so many others of Jacques, he would have appreciated all that you did for his comfort and care. My best to you -- having still living in Holladay and 8 children all raised with their families, blessings will be yours. My love to you and the family.
I’m his daughter and I will miss him so so so much and I will always love him for eternity and beyond he used to take me places with him and I loved watching ball games and going to all of his softball games at the stake center here in Holladay I love him with all my heart and soul from Angela chappuis
