Scott "Chippy" Chipman

Scott Michael Chipman, affectionately known as “Chippy,” age 62, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, stepped into eternal glory with Jesus around 6:00 AM Saturday, October 3rd, 2026. With his loving wife by his side, she held him while he breathed his last. Family members were present at UW Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, well into the hours leading up to Scott’s passing; offering Christian prayer and final goodbyes.

Scott was born on June 5th, 1964 in Geneva, Illinois to Robert “Chuck” and Mary Ann Chipman. Growing up in the Spring Lake, Waushara County, Wisconsin area, Scott attended school in Wautoma, Wisconsin. At 17, Scott left home to live in Madison, Wisconsin and start his career in hospitality. While working, Scott enrolled and received his Culinary Associates of Arts in the Madison Area Technical College. Through his work life, Scott worked at Madison area favorites, such as The Esquire Club, The Avenue Bar and Maple Bluff Country Club. From Madison, Scott received a recommendation from a chef friend in Florida which then took Scott to Naples, Florida where he worked as Sous Chef at The Vineyards Country Club. Highlights from Scott’s Madison days included cooking for 2 governors and other government workers on a regular basis. From Scott’s Florida career, he enjoyed being a part of the team that served the 1991 Senior PGA Tour in which Lee Trevino won.

In spring of 1991, Scott got a call from his dad announcing that he would be buying a restaurant. Since Scott had always told his dad he’d help him if he ever opened a restaurant, Scott made arrangements to head North. What Scott thought was going to be a few weeks or a few months turned out to be about five years as Chef of Chipman’s Supper Club in Princeton, Wisconsin. With brother Tim Chipman running the front of the house, Chipman’s became a local treasure different from many traditional supper clubs by serving up fresh, gourmet food unfamiliar, but very welcomed to area patrons.

In the fall of 1991, waitress, Linda Zrinsky, who “came with the place” (she worked for the previous owners, the Lehmans) began dating Scott. In 1995 Scott and Linda moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania followed by a 1996 move to Charlotte, North Carolina. Scott continued his work in the hospitality industry taking on Line and Sous Chef roles, with his final role as Executive Chef of River Run Country Club in Davidson, North Carolina.

While still living in North Carolina, Scott and Linda were united in marriage on July 25, 1998 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In 2001, Scott and Linda were at a crossroads in their hospitality careers. During this time they borrowed some money from family and in March of 2002 Chippy’s Kettle Corn was born. Scott enjoyed being tagged “Popmaster C” with his sidekick “The Bag Lady” by his side. After lack of success in the southern marketplace, Scott and Linda moved to McHenry, Illinois. Scott continued to grow the kettle corn business while Linda maintained more steady work. After three and a half years, the couple moved to Beaver Dam, WI both continuing to grow the business from spring through fall. In one winter season of supplemental factory work, Scott learned he definitely could never work for anyone again.

In 2010 Scott and Linda purchased an old laundromat in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. In summer of 2012, a new, POPping business, Chippy’s Popcorn Creations was born; expanding their reach into a new specialty popcorn niche serving Beaver Dam and beyond. Together they became the “POP Stars, ‘Chippy’ and ‘Mrs. Chippy’.”

In March of 2025, Scott was diagnosed with colon cancer; revealed in the biopsy from a colonoscopy. At the GI surgical consult, Scott and Linda learned that his disease had progressed to Scott’s liver. After colon surgery in May of 2025, Scott started chemotherapy treatment with the loving staff at Marshfield Medical Center in Beaver Dam. Scott did not want any of this to be public matter, so it was kept under wraps as much as possible.

While the business was still fully functioning, it was getting more difficult for Scott to maintain his usual exceptionally high work output. As Scott and Linda were facing a closure of their life’s little business, God placed a gift in their path. After many months of communications, Chippy’s Popcorn Creations was purchased from the Chipmans by a sweet family, the Davies, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Thank you, Lord! Scott retired and Linda kept the kettle corn business under the new name JoyPOP Kettle Corn and Scott remained her helper to assist as he was able. The “regulars” of more than 20 years of popping in Princeton, Watertown and Monona enjoyed and could always find easy conversation with Scott.

Scott’s medical journey included the placement of a hepatic arterial pump into his abdomen. This procedure allowed concentrated chemo via the pump to be directed only to his liver. During this time, systemic chemo had to be stopped which then later scans revealed progression on his lungs. Scott faced the re-starting of systemic chemo then underwent radiation therapy to his lungs. After recovering from that, disease care became “normal” again until Friday, October 2 in which Scott was found by Linda to be nearly unresponsive. Scott was transported by ambulance to Marshfield Medical Center, Beaver Dam, for initial evaluation and care. Scott was then transported via the UW Flight Team to UW Hospital in Madison.

In Scott’s last 36 hours of life, he suffered brain hemorrhage, stroke, pulmonary edema and heart attack. Life-saving measures would have indefinitely stopped Scott’s chemotherapy treatments, likely offering only a few more months of life. With so much trauma to his body and to honor Scott’s wishes, he was released to the especially kind and considerate Comfort Care team at UW Hospital in Madison, where he left this earth in the sixth hour of October 3, 2026.

Scott was a bull—a workhorse—a production powerhouse; he wanted and needed to be busy. These traits made Scott a valuable asset to all of his jobs, but also to the success of his own business and life. Scott was exceptionally organized and that ability surely was a gift to his creative wife.

Scott loved to fish; both ice and open water. He was so thankful to his cousins, brothers and friends for inviting him into that space for regular trips to Iowa, Canada, Lake of the Woods, Erie and the Fox Valley. Particularly special were times he got to take Linda; two ice fishing trips to Lake of the Woods and this 2026 summer to Ten Mile Lake in Ontario.

Golfing was a fun sport for Scott, but if you golf, you know it can be maddening—as Scott often found. What always made it the most fun for Scott was the chance to be with family and friends.

Bow and rifle deer hunting was a favorite pastime for Scott. The biggest things he loved was the early years of the gang at his Mom & Dad’s house; the early, early rising, the cookies and snacks Mom would prepare, the smell of coffee brewing for the thermoses. In more recent years, Scott has enjoyed a special week each year at “Deer Camp” at an AirBNB with his brothers and nephews; spending time hunting the marsh then coming back at night to tell stories—or clean a deer if one was so fortunate.

Much of Scott’s life was spent in hospitality jobs and therefore never really got to do traditional holiday things. In the past several years of being his own boss, he’s had the chance each year on New Year’s Eve to start a puzzle; just as his Mom and family would do. Scott was amazing; barely sleeping until it was completed. 1000-piecers was his thing. This last 2025-2026 holiday, he really went to town and did at least 7 puzzles!

Scott enjoyed Yahtzee and Scrabble, but Cribbage was his favorite game which he and Linda always played during their time at Beaver Dam infusion center days. Going for rides just for something fun to do was usually met with joy from Linda who loves to be exploring. And iced, raspberry filled bismarcks…he loved those! (Neato’s bakery in Baraboo has the best). In true Chipman fashion, one sweet is never enough; Scott always looked forward to his Mom’s lemon merengue pie which was a staple of most every family gathering, alongside multiple helpings of Mom’s chocolate chip cookies that were always in the house.

Scott’s heart was kind and his spirit loyal. Scott could easily talk to most anyone; he enjoyed visiting and shooting the breeze. Scott loved to laugh and he was quick-witted. Although sometimes sharp, he believed his direct speech let people know where he stood—you didn’t have to guess with him; he disliked “grey.”

One of Scott’s most admirable qualities was the way he loved his Mother. He spent as much time as he could with her; he’d do anything for her. When he left home so young, his mom would send him $10 here and there. Although he always contacted her to tell her he was ok and didn’t need it, he knew he could be loved always and unconditionally by his Mom. It was so beautiful to witness the way they both could make each other laugh…or cry; they shared a genuine, deep love for each other.

Another dear memory in Scott’s life was his Mandoline “Mandy-girl;” a North Carolina pure bred yellow lab pup he brought home from work one day. She loved him and he loved her. Mandy hung out with the best of ‘em; late nights around the fire pit she would raise a ruckus while Scott slept in the hammock. Scott would awake to Mandy quietly sleeping under him but then discover that his beer bottles, smokes and phone would be strewn throughout the woods. When Scott and Linda moved to Illinois, Mandy would no longer have 2 acres of freedom, so she was placed with a nice family after spending some time at the Chipman Wisconsin homestead. This was sad for Scott, but his kind heart knew it was best for his Mandoline.

One of the greatest joys to be celebrated is the knowledge that in the course of this illness Scott grew to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Scott began to ask questions, share in morning devotionals and pray with Linda, watch Sunday church on television. In more recent months, Scott started asking Linda about where they’d go to church once winter Sundays were going to be free. Although the prayer of church with her husband didn’t come to fruition, Linda praises God for Scott’s eternal salvation in Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Scott is survived by his loving wife, Linda; brothers Robert (Mary), Evan, Timothy (Rebecca); sisters Kathleen (Jim), Amy (Jerry), Lisa, Tracy (Chuck), Jennifer (Gary); mother-in-law Shirley Zrinsky; sisters-in-law Ann (Tim), Julie (Shaun), Wendy (David); brothers-in-law Carl (Debbie), Waylon (Shelly), Dan (Aslim); several cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; lifelong friend, George; many other dear friends.

Scott is preceded in death by his parents, Chuck and Mary Ann; infant sister, Maria.

A memorial gathering for Scott will take place on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd, Beaver Dam, from 11 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 1:00 p.m.

Condolences may be sent to: Cornerstone Funeral Home, ICO Linda Chipman, 135 Keller Blvd, Beaver Dam, WI 53916

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Scott’s honor can be made to UW Carbone Cancer Center or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Lastly, Scott would encourage you and your loved ones to get a colonoscopy as soon as you are able. Colon cancer is highly curable if caught at an early stage. Despite what other options are available, it was Scott’s experience that would implore you to get the full internal view via colonoscopy.

Scott was registered as an organ donor as well as a body donor to the UW Body Donor Program. Unfortunately, due to his circumstances he was unable to be accepted by either program. However, the Lion’s Eye Bank of Wisconsin assessed his situation and planned to retrieve Scott’s corneas; this would indeed serve at least one other person. Scott would encourage you to consider these options in your end-of-life planning decisions.

Scott and Linda would like to offer special thanks to all the nurses and staff who cared so well for Scott. All loved his “lucky shirt;” the tie dye he wore to nearly every chemo treatment. Nurses Jana, McKenna, Janelle and the infusion team at Marshfield Medical Center in Beaver Dam; UW doctors GI surgical Dr. Evie Carchman, Oncology Dr. Johanna Poteralla, Oncology Dr. Monica Patel, Oncology NP Meredith Winkelhake; the countless UW Eastside nurses who administered bi-weekly treatments; the quick-thinking Beaver Dam Emergency Response Team; the particularly kind staff at Marshfield Medical Center Emergency Room; the UW Madison Flight Team who genuinely cared for Linda alongside their urgency with Scott; the extremely compassionate Comfort Care team at UW Madison; Baggin for a Cure of Mayville, WI who generously provided gas cards and food certificates; the generosity and kindness given in gifts, words and prayers to Scott and Linda from those who knew of the situation. With most heartfelt gratitude, you are appreciated more than words can express. God bless you!