Terrence 'Tapey' Stapleton remembered for his dedication to the fire department and North Lake community

The North Lake community lost one of its most dedicated residents July 28, when Terrence "Tapey" Stapleton died at the age of 79. 

Aside from a stint in the Marine Corps, which took Stapleton to Guam and Japan, he spent his entire life in North Lake, since his birth in 1939. 

He was best known for his dedication to the North Lake Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as chief for over 35 years. 

Stapleton was an excellent chief, and was respected by the firemen who worked under him, said fellow firefighter Bobby Cull.

"Terry was old school. He was a big disciplinarian, probably something he learned from when he was a Marine," said Bobby Cull, who served under Stapleton for 20 years. "When he was chief you could eat off the floor it was so clean. Once you got to know him, he was a heck of a good guy. He was a great chief." 

Cull said there was no job that was too small for Stapleton, who would take every task seriously. 

Stapleton's daughter, Becky Neff, would agree. During an ice storm in the 1970s the family did not see their father for four days.

"He was always at the fire department," Neff said. "They were a very close-knit group of people. They did everything they had to do to keep the community safe during that ice storm."

Stapleton was respected by many other fire chiefs in the area, Cull said.

"One of my favorite memories was we were assisting on a call and this newer assistant chief of a different department didn't know what to do. He went to Terry for advice and he just said, 'send my boys in,' and we knocked the fire right out," Cull said. "Terry always knew what to do."

As strict as Stapleton was, he also had a caring side to him.

"My brother had died, and Terry was always around asking if I was OK," Cull said. "He let you know that he really cared." 

According to Stapleton's obituary, he was a jack of all trades. 

He was a construction worker, and his hobbies included gardening and baseball. 

With his company's equipment, he purchased a home in North Lake, next to St. Clare Church, for $1 and moved the home across a field to where it stands today.

His daughter said he was always helping his neighbors with construction problems, and would help with gardening too. 

"He always said that he only 'knew dirt,' which wasn't true because he knew a lot of things, but he was good in the garden," Neff said.

When it came to baseball, he played and coached the North Lake Lakers team for many years and also played for the Monches Irishmen team. He was also inducted into the Land O' Lakes baseball Hall of Fame. 

After Stapleton retired from the fire department in 2008, he was a key member in putting together the veterans memorial and helicopter next to the firehouse in North Lake. 

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the noon funeral service Saturday, Aug. 4, at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, W314 N7462 Highway 83. The service will be followed by full military honors and a reception. 

Stapleton was preceded in death by his his wife Donna “Cork” Stapleton; brothers Pete and Morrie Stapleton; sisters Mary Lou Frederickson, Connie Meryerring and Nancy Becker; grandchildren Taylor Dacey and Mitchell Neff.

He is survived by his children Rose Dacey, Rhonda (Brent) Baldwyn and Rebecca (Jim) Neff; grandchildren Makayla Neff, Ariel (Andrew) Dean, Elijah (Liljana) Dacey, Jesse Sharpe, Reiss Stapleton and Andrea Baldwyn; great-grandchildren Kaden Dacey, Elijana Dacey, Aiden Neff and Abigail Dean.

Memorials in Stapleton's honor are suggested to the North Lake Rec Club/Vets Memorial, P.O. Box 81, North Lake, WI 53064.

For more information, visit www.evertlukofuneralhome.com.