* John Chapek; Former Hardware Store Owner

John “Jack” Chapek, former hardware store owner, died Monday at his home in Santa Paula. He was 70.

He was born June 6, 1929, in San Luis Obispo and moved to Santa Paula with his family when he was 5. He attended school in Santa Paula and graduated from Villanova High School in Ojai.

From 1948 until 1953, he served in the Army and became a master sergeant. He received the Army Occupation Medal in Japan, the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star and the United Nations Service Medal.

For 30 years, Chapek’s family owned and operated Chapek Hardware in Santa Paula. He started working there as a young man with his parents.

At the time of his death, he worked for Green Thumb Nursery in Ventura.

He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, model trains and airplanes, and spending time with his family. He and his wife of 41 years, Emma, enjoyed trips to Las Vegas.

In addition to his wife, Chapek is survived by sons Rick Chapek of Santa Paula and Jeff Chapek of Vida, Ore.; his mother, Mildred E. Chapek of Santa Paula; brother Jim Chapek of Yorba Linda; sister Pat Rex of Carson City, Nev.; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from noon until 8 p.m. today at Pierce Bros. Stetler Mortuary’s chapel in Santa Paula, which is directing the arrangements. Graveside services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday at Santa Paula Cemetery.