The Quad Cities mourns the loss of Analiese Chapman, a 20 year old volunteer firefighter for the Riverdale fire department. Chapman suffered from cystic fibrosis, and had a double lung transplant in March 2019. She passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2 from complications of CF, and the community will continue to remember her.
Chapman is remembered as a bright, positive inspirational individual. She grew up in a family of firefighters and still wanted to serve after getting diagnosed with CF. She joined the department in November of 2017, and they welcomed her with open arms. As for working alongside her father, “I think it meant the world to her,” Ballard remarked. “She loved it and he did as well.”
Assistant Fire Chief Brian Ballard remembers Chapman as, “the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he explained. “It didn’t matter if she wasn’t feeling well; she always had a smile on her face no matter what.”
Assistant Fire Chief Chris Bernard says Chapman was always in good spirits and believes she was “a role model, not just for firefighters, but for everyone. Analiese had all these things against her and she was always upbeat and excited to be involved,” Bernard expressed. “And that gives you the impetus to do all you can.”
Senior Kayci Gatlin remembers Analiese as a role model because of her positivity. Cousins with Chapman, Gatlin believes Chapman was “one of a kind.”
“She was always upbeat, wanted everyone to make sure they knew she was okay, even if she was having a bad day,” Gatlin explained.
Gatlin was close to Chapman, due to a lifelong friendship. She would visit Chapman in the hospital, and even mentions that her family moved Christmas around a time when they could see Analiese, because she was back in the hospital after a complication from the lung transplant.
Fellow firefighters drove up to Iowa City and escorted her back after she passed. There were fire trucks and other emergency vehicles staged along all of the overpasses on Interstate 80, as well as many following behind the procession. Among those joining the procession were the Patriot Guard riders.
In her gear rack at the department, Chapman’s uniform sits in its spot, with the helmet on top, in the place she last left it. Her celebration of life was held at the Waterfront Convention Center this past Saturday.
Team Analiese, a Facebook group created to update the community on her health daily, and recently posted they plan to make Team Analiese a permanent foundation, with an annual event which would help raise money for families like the Chapman’s who face long hospital stays.
Chapman was known around the community for her positive outlook on life. The community honors her by lowering the department flag for the Riverdale department, located at City Hall, to half mast throughout the rest of February to honor the people who were role models to everyone in the community because of their compassion and love for Chapman.
Cecilia Zavala • Feb 21, 2020 at 9:45 am
I’m so proud of you Sunny! Love your article!