Thomas William Schapman, age 80, passed away peacefully and prayerfully on April 17, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll, IA. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Tom was known for his unwavering faith and his compassionate nature.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Con-Celebrants will be Fr. Merlin Schrad and Fr. Craig Collison. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur, with the assistance of Marc Schapman, Lucy Schapman, and Judith Williams. Mass Servers will be Luke Williams and Thomas Williams. Lectors for the funeral Mass will be Tom Schapman, Jr. and John Schapman. Petitions will be read by Megan Callahan, Clare Schapman, and Sally Schapman. Gift Bearers will be Anna Callahan, Ava Schapman, Katie Farrington, Frances Schapman, Grace Williams, Alex Weber, Mary Schapman, Everett Schapman, and John Williams. Eucharistic Minister will be Bob Balk. Casket Bearers will be Owen Weber, Lucas Weber, Nick Callahan, Will Callahan, Joey Farrington, and Ryan Farrington. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Tuesday morning where additional visitation will occur from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
In his memory, the family kindly requests donations to the following organizations: St. John Paul II Parish, Kuemper Catholic Schools, Domus Trinitatis, St. Anthony Hospital Foundation, and New Hope Village.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Tom’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Tom was born on April 7, 1944, to Albert and Florence (Gross) Schapman in Mount Carmel, IA. He was baptized and received his First Holy Communion at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. Tom attended elementary school at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School.
While at Kuemper, Tom met the love of his life, Judy. Tom and Judy were high school sweethearts and prom king and queen. In 1968, they were united in Holy Matrimony at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll and enjoyed 55 years of beautiful marriage. Tom attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Mortuary Sciences. He returned to Carroll and resumed working at Sharp Funeral Home, where he was employed during high school. Tom became co-owner of Sharp Funeral Home. He worked closely with his beloved friends Don Masching, Lillian Ferneding, Bernie Henrich, Clayton Broich, and many others. There he exemplified his deep understanding of the importance of faith during times of grief. Tom’s faith-driven perspective allowed him to offer comfort and hope in times of sorrow, reminding others of God’s eternal love. Tom felt honored and blessed to be able to assist families in their most difficult hour, and in particular to serve the extraordinary people of the Carroll community.
Tom’s strong Catholic faith was the cornerstone of his life. He found solace, strength, and guidance in his beliefs, which he shared generously with his family and his community. He was actively involved with Holy Spirit Catholic Church, serving as a lector and eucharistic minister; Holy Spirit and Kuemper Catholic Schools; and the Knights of Columbus. He served as the Grand Knight for two years, assisted at fish fries, and spent Saturday evenings calling Bingo games while his children fell asleep at his feet. He also served as a Little League coach for his children’s baseball and softball teams.
Tom had a deep love for his friends and neighbors. He treasured the friendships that he formed, and among his dearest friends in the last few years of his life was Louie Grote, with whom he shared a morning ritual of coffee and conversation. Their daily coffee breaks, infused with discussions of sports and politics, were more than just a routine – they were a time of camaraderie, laughter, and unwavering friendship. Tom, Judy, and their family are so grateful for the generous love, support, and practical help they received from the wonderful people surrounding them on Peeble Lane.
Above all, Tom loved being a husband, father, and grandfather. He lived his vocation to Holy Matrimony with utmost love, devotion, and service. He was truly a man of Christ who laid down his life for his bride, Judy, whom he cherished immensely. He was so proud of each of his children and grandchildren, and he treasured their visits and talks. He enjoyed attending his children’s various sporting and musical events throughout his life and the family’s annual tradition of vacationing at Lake Okoboji. In his later years, he loved watching movies with his grandkids, playing Pass the Ace, cheering on the Kuemper Knights and Iowa Hawkeyes, sitting in the warm sun, driving around Swan Lake, and the simple act of visiting with family, neighbors, and friends.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Judy, his children Jenny Callahan of Shawnee, KS; Jill (Bret) Farrington of Mendota Heights, MN; Tom (Anne) Schapman Jr. of Duluth, MN; Annie (Clark) Williams of Dyersville, IA; Amy (Todd) Weber of Edina, MN; Marc (Nicole) Schapman of Edwardsville, IL; and John (Jenn) Schapman of Wenatchee, WA; close family friends Kelly Hendricks of Kansas City, KS and Stacie Gerdes of Carroll, IA; and his twenty-six grandchildren: Anna, Nick, Megan, and Will Callahan; Joey, Ryan, and Katie Farrington; Ava, Clare, Frances, and Mary Schapman; Judith, Luke, Grace, Thomas, and John Williams; Owen, Lucas, and Alex Weber; Lucy, Sally, and Everett Schapman; and Michael, Angela, Leona, and Maria Schapman. He is also survived by his sisters Judy (Butch) Alexander of New Hope, MN and Mary (Jim) Macke of Carroll, IA and his brother Dave (Ann) Schapman of Carroll, IA, and in-laws Rosie (Tom) Osterhaus of Carmel, IN; Ramona (Jerry) Martin of Sacramento, CA; Andy (Chris) Balk of Redondo Beach, CA; Mary (Lenny) Bates of Chandler, AZ; and Bob (Sharon) Balk of Blaine, MN.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Florence, brothers William (Billy) and Lynn, mother-in-law Leona (Kuker) Balk, and father-in-law Andy Balk Jr.
In our grief, we find solace in knowing that Tom’s compassionate spirit, his undying faith, and his connection to God will remain with us forever. His legacy, built on love, commitment to his community, and family will leave a lasting impression upon his family, friends, and the Carroll community, which he loved and cherished as a source of many blessings in his life.
The Schapman family would like to express their utmost appreciation for the love, care, and tremendous support of Dr. Michael Slattery and the nurses and full staff of St. Anthony’s Hospital who took such excellent care of Tom. The family would also like to thank Mr. Kyle Atkinson and the staff of the Sharp Funeral Home for their compassionate and professional care of Tom and his family following his passing. The Schapman family is so appreciative of Fr. Timothy Schott for lovingly bringing all of God’s people together in the Mass of Christian burial for Tom, and eternally grateful to Fr. Patrick Behm for providing the greatest gift to Tom in his last days: Confession, the Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, and the Apostolic Pardon. The Schapman family is exceedingly grateful to all of the priests, deacons, and sisters of the Carroll community who bring God closer to all of us. Tom and his family loved and cherished the entire Carroll community, and the family is grateful for the many prayers, condolences, meals, hugs, and innumerable sources of support that they have received. May God bless you all and keep you in His care!
