Joseph R. Chapla, 86, Lorain Sports Hall of Fame inductee

He was born March 19, 1918 in Lorain, where he had been a resident until moving to South Bend 3 years ago.

Joe was a graduate of Lorain High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart for his valiant service while fighting in Cherbourg, France. Upon his return from the war, he took employment with the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company in Avon Lake where he worked for 41 years, until his retirement in 1980.

He was a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Lorain.

Joe’s sports talents were displayed with his active participation in baseball, track, and basketball, as well as his 35 year softball career. That career began at the age of 17 when he played in the Commercial league. Thereafter, if a manager asked him to play on their team, he did. From Buckeye to CEI to Harts Jewelery, he led them to a city and later district championship. In 1943, while playing on the Carek Meats team, he not only won the district honors, but also took them to the state finals. His finale came while playing for Lorain Glass; they won the city championship four consecutive years. He underhanded pitch ‘’with a snap’’ was his ‘’claim to fame’’ garnering his induction to the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

As an avid track competitor in the 1930’s with the Slovak Catholic Sokols, Joe won many medals and went on to coach his four children who actively participated and competed in national Sokol meets during their youth. His involvement with the Sokols continued as he supported and became a board member of the American Slovak Home in Lorain.

Mr. Chapla is survived by his sons: Richard and wife Joyce of Mishawaka, IN, and Robert and his wife Valerie of Pleasant Hill, CA; daughters: Elaine and husband Ronald Wood of Long Beach, CA, and Barbara of Santa Ana, CA; grandchildren: Beth, Jeff, and Scott of South Bend, IN and Lauren and Seth of Pleasant Hill, CA; 4 great-grandchildren, all residing in Indiana; and a brother: Frank of Lorain.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years: Dorothy (nee Kukis); parents: John J. Chapla Sr. and Anna (nee Zuffa) Chapla.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 14, 2004 from 4-8 p.m. in the Gluvna-SHimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave. in Lorain, with the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame Memorial Service at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2428 Elyria Ave., Lorain with the Rev. David A. Novak, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in his name to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305, or Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2428 Elyria Ave., Lorain or the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 723, Lorain, OH 44052.

Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net.