Bernard Schaper

Bernard Julius Schaper, 98, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Temple, Texas, after a brief illness.

Mr. Schaper was born May 5, 1916, in Jackson, the son of Julius and Frieda Kipping Schaper. He attended public schools in Cape Girardeau and graduated from Jackson High School. He was also a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and played trumpet in the marching band.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army and in the Army Air Corps for four years, achieving the rank of captain. Upon returning from service, he joined his father as a partner in the grocery business. The business grew with Jackson and became known as Schapers' IGA Foodliner. In 1947, he married Dorothy Fulbright of Cape Girardeau.

Mr. Schaper was very active in the community. As a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church, he served in many capacities, including lay leader. He was also a longtime member and past president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Jackson Retail Merchants Association, chairman of the Jackson Industrial Development Co. and member of the Southeast Missouri Medical Association. He was a charter member of the Jackson Optimist Club.

In 1967, he received the Community Leadership Award from the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. The R.A. Fulenwider Award for Meritorious Community Service was presented to him in 1979 by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. He was named Merchant of the Decade in 1981 by the Jackson Merchants Association.

After his retirement in 1976, he was appointed chairman of the project of restoring the historic Oliver House, later assuming the position of curator of the museum. He also served as chairman of the Jackson Heritage Association, the sponsoring organization of the project. In 1985, he received the annual Heritage Award presented by the Jackson Heritage Association.

Mr. Schaper moved to Temple, Texas, in 2004 and became an active member of the Temple Meridian Retirement Community and Grace Presbyterian Church of Temple, where he made many new friends.

Mr. Schaper was preceded in death by his grandson, John Henry Allen, in 1980, and his wife, Dorothy Schaper, in 1992. He is survived by two daughters, Nancy Schaper of Longmont, Colorado, and Teri Schaper Allen of Temple, Texas; a grandson, Peter Allen of Temple; and a granddaughter, Mary Katherine Allen of Houston.

Memorials may be made to New McKendree UMC of Jackson, the Oliver House Endowment of the Jackson Heritage Association, Grace Presbyterian Church of Temple or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. David Israel and Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating.

Arrangements handled by Cracraft-Miller Funeral home of Jackson.