Letters of Life

About the Book

On March 27, 2003, Michael Collins Chaput set out from his retirement home in Sedona, AZ for a mid day hike. It was on that beautiful afternoon that he suddenly and without warning left this world, leaving behind a loving wife and five grown daughters. Months after his untimely death, a collection of letters written by him was found. The majority of the letters were sent to his mother, whom he referred to as Maude, and span the years of 1988 to 1994. These letters detail his life in a small Iowa town, working as an anesthesiologist, and raising a family together with his wife. These letters and others, including one entitled Letters of Life which he wrote as a legacy to his daughters, make up the text of this book. They were discovered and believed to be a gift for the loved ones he left behind.

About the Author

Michael Chaput, fondly known as Ol? Shep by his peers, was born in Detroit, MI in 1945. He was best known by his friends as a fun loving man who played many practical jokes. His family remembers him fondly as an intelligent person who loved nature, family, books and learning. For over 25 years, he and his wife lived in Council Bluffs, IA, where they raised their five girls. After semi-retirement in 2000, they moved to Sedona, AZ where they enjoyed hiking the red rock canyon. At the age of 57, Michael Chaput died in Sedona while hiking Cibola Pass to Brin?s Mesa.