Hall of Famer Nancy Chapman dies at age 80

Nancy Chapman, a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, passed away Wednesday, April 28, at the age of 80.

The Oneida, Wis., native was inducted into the Women's International Bowling Congress (now USBC) Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 2002.

Chapman was appointed a WIBC director by former president Alberta E. Crowe in 1974, an appointment she said "knocked her socks off." She would serve on the WIBC board for 25 years, including positions as 5th, 6th and 7th vice president and also as sergeant-at-arms. She was a WIBC Member Emerita.

Chapman, who worked at Wisconsin Bell for 30 years, also loved to write about the sport. She won her first writing award for a column in 1964. She founded the Wisconsin Women Bowling Writers in 1975, and served as editor of the Wisconsin Women's Bowling Association state publication, Bowling Action.

She was active with the National Women Bowling Writers (NWBW) and served as president from 2004-06. She earned the Mary Janetto Award (outstanding promotion of local bowling) and the Jo Ettien Lieber Award (distinguished service to the game of American tenpins) from the NWBW.

She also served on the Bowling Writers Association of America board.

Before her induction into the WIBC Hall of Fame, Chapman, who promoted entries for the WIBC Championships for many years, recalled the time in 1983 when her efforts led to nearly 500 northern Wisconsin bowlers deciding to head to Las Vegas for the tournament. The large response required that a Boeing 747 be chartered for the group and the turnout attracted media attention because a plane that size had never flown into Green Bay.

Chapman is a member of the Green Bay Women's Bowling Association and Wisconsin WBA Halls of Fame.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Lyndahl Funeral Home and at Calvary Lutheran Church on Monday, May 3, from 9:30 a.m. until services at 10:30 a.m.