Louis Terry Chappell, known to all as Terry, died in Bluffton, Ohio, Monday, February 12, 2024. Terry was born in 1942 in South Haven, Michigan to Louis and Pauline Chappell.
In his youth, Terry enjoyed boy scouts, sports and being outdoors. He was the President and Co-Valedictorian of his high school class. After undergraduate studies at DePauw University, Terry attended medical school at the University of Michigan, where he met Bobbie Heiks at a meeting of medical students opposing the Vietnam War. In less than two weeks they were engaged and married in three months. As a student, Terry had developed pacifist convictions, which he found affirmed in Bobbie’s Mennonite heritage. The couple also became convinced members of the Religious Society of Friends, and would be deeply involved in the First Mennonite Church during their Bluffton years, raising their four children in both faiths.
Terry’s medical positions took them to Ogden, Utah and Harlan, Kentucky before they settled in Bobbie’s hometown of Bluffton. They lived for three years in a land trust community called Quaker Earth, near Cedar Mills, Ohio, a place that remained a cherished destination for their family and a wide circle of friends for years after the Chappells moved back to Bluffton.
After earning the MD, Terry practiced medicine in a variety of settings, including local hospitals, the Lima State correctional facility and his own practice in Bluffton, Celebration of Health Center. Later in his career he extended his practice into the Toledo area. In the 1970s his office was an RV named Health On Wheels, which he drove across three counties of rural southern Ohio to reach patients in need. For over 20 years, Bobbie and Terry ran a weekly volunteer clinic in Lima, Ohio, providing free care to anyone who needed it. Those who did included many young people who needed physicals to take part in school activities.
As a doctor, Terry became interested in natural medicine early in his career. He helped thousands of patients get better while avoiding the overuse of pharmaceuticals, especially with pain management, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. As a champion of integrative medicine, Dr. Chappell served as the President of the American College for Advancement in Medicine for several years and then as President of the International College of Integrative Medicine for many more. He was a life member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
He made a special contribution to the practice of chelation therapy, teaching hundreds of colleagues how to do it and playing a pivotal role in clinical trials of its safety and effectiveness. He advocated for policies to support the practice of innovative medicine. He was persistent in his research to find effective ways to address “hard-to-treat” illnesses and he was a mentor to many young health professionals who wanted to learn about alternatives to mainstream medicine. He was loved by both patients and colleagues and he loved his work.
Terry was a lifelong athlete who was the captain of the varsity basketball team, went to state with the golf team and was known for running on the beach in high school. He ran cross country barefoot in college and later was part of a storied church-league basketball team for First Mennonite of Bluffton. He holds a record for the fastest golf game at the Bluffton golf course, from a time when he ran to his ball between strokes. Terry ran several marathons and helped start a 6:00 a.m. pickup basketball game at Bluffton Elementary school to keep in shape. Bobbie and Terry were instrumental in founding Bluffton Family Recreation, a long-term project that also involved starting the first youth soccer program in town.
Terry was a devoted supporter of Michigan Wolverine sports and this fandom was only surpassed when he got to cheer for his children and grandchildren, which he did at every opportunity. He had an equal passion for music, devouring his children’s performances and singing regularly in Bluffton’s annual performance of the Messiah. He used to say that what he played best was the stereo and when he did, it often would be folk music or the Beatles.
Terry was a very active member of the Bluffton community, as an advocate for policies and community practices that affirmed the dignity of all people. He was a member of the Bluffton Bridge Club for decades and he volunteered for Bluffton Elementary School, the First Mennonite Youth Group and youth sports programs. He was a generous benefactor to social, political and environmental causes. He was considered a compassionate and thoughtful listener and felt a deep purpose for working to bring community members together on many different issues. This passion also spread to a lifetime support for peace and justice.
Terry loved being outdoors and especially on the water, having grown up on the shores of Lake Michigan. He had a lifelong relationship with Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan, as a staff member, family camper and supporter of the camp. He also loved the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and spent many weeks in the Les Cheneaux Islands of northern Lake Huron. He was an inveterate optimist, who always believed there was another way, even if we couldn’t quite see it. He greeted everyone with enthusiastic friendliness.
Terry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bobbie (Heiks) Chappell and his sisters Pamela Chappell of South Haven and Connie Klug of Muskegon, Michigan. His children are Wendy (and Andy) Chappell-Dick of Bluffton, Ben Chappell (and Marike Janzen) of Lawrence, Kansas, Jennifer (and Aaron) Chappell Deckert of North Newton, Kansas and Katie (and Mark) Chappell-Lakin of Ann Arbor, Michigan. His grandchildren are Hannah Chappell-Dick, Sara Chappell-Dick, Calvin Janzen Chappell, Felix Janzen Chappell, Lydia Chappell Deckert, Andy Chappell Deckert, Abigail Chappell Deckert, Amalia Chappell-Lakin, Greta Chappell-Lakin and Quinn Chappell-Lakin. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, siblings-in-law, friends and patients.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 13 at First Mennonite Church, 101 S. Jackson Street, Bluffton, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family may donate to Camp Friedenswald in Terry’s memory, or to their local YMCA.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/
