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At random: The first boat known to have been navigated under water was built in 1620 by a Dutchman, Cornelius Van Drebbel. Van Drebbel is said to have developed a chemical which would purify the air and allow the crew to stay submerged for extended periods.

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Coyote

Posted 2026-05-21 4:04 PM (#106098)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1465

Location: NE Florida

Subject: Thursday Obits

https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/

The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.

I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.

STRAHAN .. .. .. Gary Francis Strahan, age 85, passed away on June 30, 2025. Gary was born in 1940 to Bus and Maxine Strahan in Wayne, Nebraska. Even after moving to California with his family, Gary always thought of Nebraska as his home. From the age of fourteen, he would take the bus back every summer from California to Nebraska to help his grandmother with the family farm in Albion, Nebraska. After graduating high school, Gary attended the local college for a year and then decided to join the Navy.
He spent 9 years in the Navy and served on the first US submarine to surface at the North Pole. He was stationed in New London, Connecticut, where he met and married the love of his life, Joanne Klimanowski, in 1963. His oldest son, Joseph was born in 1964, followed by Kimberly in 1965, and Christopher in 1967.
After discharging from the Navy in 1967, he took a job with Honeywell and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. His youngest daughter, Mary-Sue, was born in 1971.
Gary spent the next several years raising his family and working for Honeywell, then Prime Computers, and finally the Bureau of Land Management, where he retired after a successful career.
Gary enjoyed hunting with his family and friends and spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping. He also got his private pilot's license and loved his time flying for the Civil Air Patrol. He also loved spending time with his family and friends skiing and riding his bicycle.
Gary is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joanne, their four children, nine grandchildren: Dan, Juliette, Sophia, Alex, Kira, Max, Zeke, Zech and Derek, and one great-grandson, Gino. He is also survived by his four siblings, Mary Susan, Patricia, Timothy, and Daniel.

CHAPPLE .. .. .. Coronado’s Michael Wreford Chapple, devoted husband, father, and respected member of the community, passed away March 28 at the age of 90, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Four generations of the family were present in the family home at his passing.
Born in 1935 in Billings, Montana, Mike was the only child of Rear Admiral Wreford Goss “Moon” Chapple, and his mother, Grace Hammond Chapple. Raised in a naval family, he attended 27 schools before the age of 19. These experiences, largely due to his father’s naval assignments, instilled in him a quiet resilience, adaptability, and independence that would guide him throughout his life.
In 1954, Mike entered the U.S. Naval Academy through a Congressional appointment from Montana after attending St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduating in 1958, he followed his father’s path into naval service.
Mike served multiple assignments aboard surface warships and submarines. Among them were the USS Gurke, USS Queenfish, USS Perch, USS Spinax, USS Sea Lion, and USS Portland. During the Vietnam War, he held key intelligence roles supporting joint Army-Navy operations across Southeast Asia.
His military service earned him numerous awards, including the Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” with Gold Star, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm, Vietnam Civil Action and Campaign Medal.
In the summer of 1961, while stationed on a submarine in San Diego, Mike met Mary Ann Wilson at a Coronado pool party, where young Navy officers and friends gathered regularly. Their relationship grew primarily through letters written while Mike was overseas. As a student at the Defense Intelligence School in Washington, D.C., their relationship flourished. In June 1964, just hours after his graduation, Mike and Mary Ann were wed at Washington’s Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church. Mary Ann was escorted down the aisle by her father, Bob Wilson, a U.S. Congressman representing San Diego.
Early in their marriage, Mike served at the Naval Scientific Intelligence Center as head of the Sonar Division in Washington, D.C. In his spare time, he earned his M.Ed. from George Washington University. While assigned in San Diego as operations officer and navigator for the USS SPINAX, the couple welcomed their daughter, Karen, to their first home in Coronado.
Two tours later, when Mike Chapple was commanding officer overseeing decommissioning of the USS Perch in Philadelphia, their son, Michael Wreford, was born. From 1970-1979, Chapple served in senior military positions aboard the USS Sea Lion and USS Perch, as well as advising Army generals in Europe and Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon. His family witnessed his retirement at Washington D.C. after honorably serving his country for 21 years.
After his military retirement, he began his second career in property management in Tucson, Arizona. He was regional manager for Valley Equity Southwest and later joined Potter Development Corporation as head of its hotel division. In that role, he managed award-winning new projects, from construction to full operation. As a certified hotel administrator, he also taught hotel administration courses at Pima Community College.
Due to his father’s failing health, Mike and Mary Ann returned to Coronado to be closer to family. Mike built a respected career in residential real estate here, initially hired as an Associate Broker with Napolitano Realty. He later formed a partnership with Mary Milat and sold real estate, managed property, and brokered loans.
Several years later, Mike and Mary joined Prudential California Realty, which became Berkshire Hathaway. He eventually founded his own firm, Michael W Chapple Realty and remained deeply involved in the real estate field that he so enjoyed.
A respected community member, who found great satisfaction in life’s simple pursuits, Mike hosted numerous dinner parties and family gatherings. He had always been a gifted and award-winning athlete (boxing, lacrosse, and swimming), and remained an avid skier, tennis player and golfer until well into his eighties. He served as past president of Tucson Rotary International and was an active member of Coronado Rotary. Mike supported the Naval Academy as a Blue & Gold Officer in San Diego and was faithful to his classmates of 1958. He served on the Coronado Fourth of July committee and attended Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church.Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Ann; his daughter, Karen Chapple Contreras (Samuel); and his son, Michael Wreford Chapple II (Nicole), all living in Coronado. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Bethany, Michael, Sammy, Jonathan, Jimi, and Wreford, and one great-grandson, Malakai.Mike was preceded in death by his father, “Moon” Chapple, and mother, Grace Ford, as well as his adopted half-brother, Jack.Mike was especially devoted to his family, whom he loved dearly. He will be remembered for his steady leadership, strength in adversity, and the warmth he brought to those fortunate enough to know and love him.

WALL .. .. .. Gene R. Wall (Rodney Eugene Wall) August 10, 1932 - May 1, 2026
We will always remember Gene Wall—our dad, our grandpa, our friend, and someone who meant so much to all of us.
Gene was born in Vernonia, Oregon, to Charlie and Zelma Wall. He grew up during the Great Depression, in a time when people didn't have much—but what they did have was resilience, hard work, and strong family values. Those qualities stayed with him for the rest of his life.
He graduated from Vernonia High School in 1950, where he played sports and built friendships that lasted his entire life. Not long after, he decided he wanted something more than his small hometown could offer. So, with a couple of friends, he joined the Navy.
He served as a cook on submarines during the Korean War—something that ended up being a gift to all of us, because he brought that love of cooking home. Many of us will forever remember his meals... especially that famous Filipino style chicken adobo recipe.
After his service, Gene came home, went to Oregon State on the G.I. Bill, and built a life centered around family. He married Nancy Jean Davis, and together they had three children—Wendy, Patricia, and Charles, but later divorced in 1970.
Gene spent many years working at Tektronix, and even after retiring early, he didn't slow down much. He kept working, stayed active, and most importantly—he made time for the things he loved. And one of those things was golf. He absolutely loved golf... especially when it was free.
In his later years, he lived with daughter Wendy and son-in-law Mike (Dean), first in Portland, Oregon and then in Pahrump, Nevada, where he enjoyed the sunshine and warmth. He passed peacefully in his sleep at 93—just as he often said he would, after a long and fulfilling life.
But if you really want to understand Gene, you don't just look at the timeline of his life—you look at how he showed up for the people he loved. He was steady. He was practical. He was always there.
He gave us guidance—even when we didn't want to hear it. He gave us support—especially when we needed it most. And he gave us a place to land, no matter what was going on in our lives.
So many of our best memories with Dad are the simple ones—camping trips, swimming, movie matinees, holidays, time at the coast, and all the little things he did to make life special, even when money was tight.
He loved his grandchildren deeply, too—always finding ways to help, to support, and to make their lives a little easier.
And in the end, his words were exactly what you'd expect from him—honest, simple, and full of acceptance: "Oh boy... it is what it is."

LANGE .. .. .. Walter T. Lange - CHESHIRE - Walter Thomas Lange, 85, departed this life on May 4, 2026, surrounded by his daughters and friends, succumbing to cancer. He was born in Meriden, CT, on February 5, 1941, to the late Walter Christopher and Rosamund Francis (Southwick) Lange.
Butchie, as he was affectionately known, grew up in Wallingford. He was part of the Class of 1959 at Lyman Hall High School and enlisted in the US Navy after graduation. He joined the Silent Service of the Submarines, serving on both the USS Bluegill and USS Bream during the Vietnam War. Upon his return to civilian life, he became a tool and die maker, following in his father's footsteps, and soon met and married Grace Ann Seeley, beginning his family. After living in Meriden and Wallingford, the Lange family moved to Cheshire, where Walt spent the rest of his years.
Family was always most important to Walter. His favorite days were spent with family and friends outside, often playing horseshoes. An avid fisherman, it was his favorite way to spend a day. He had his best memories fishing and going on fishing trips with his Uncle Emil, father, brothers Ed and John, and youngest daughter Tracy. He had an amazing green thumb with a reputation for growing the best tasting tomatoes and the most beautiful Dahlias.
While claiming to be a quiet introvert, Walter would strike up a friendly conversation with anyone everywhere he went, and the entire neighborhood always looked to him for help, advice, guidance on projects, and support. He was dependable, patient, and generous with his time and talents. He endlessly supported his daughters in everything they did, even performing in the Dad's dance group at Toni-Lynn's dance studio and building many scenery pieces for her shows.
Walter is survived by his daughters: Tracy (and Patrick) Cusano of Wallingford and Toni-Lynn (and C.A.) Miles of Higganum. He is predeceased by his older sister, Marjorie Hartman, and is survived by his brother-in-law, Phil Hartman, his younger brothers, Edward C. (and Beverly) Lange of Wallingford, and John F. (and Irma Christina) Lange of Newington, and several nieces and nephews.

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