In Remembrance
Classmates of Ottumwa High School
Class of 1959

Denny Draper

June 24, 1941 - November 16, 2018

Dennis B. "Denny" Draper, 77 of Ottumwa, passed away November 16th, 2018 at Hospice House in Ottumwa after a hard-fought battle with Leukemia and advanced Dementia.

Denny was born in Ottumwa, IA June 24th 1941 to the late Thelma and James Draper. He married Jane Paris on July 20th 1963 at The Little Brown Church in the Vale.

Denny attended the Police Service Academy at Indian Hills Community College. He worked as a Security Guard at the Ottumwa Air Base and retired in 1996 after 36 years with the City of Ottumwa serving many of those years as Parks Department Foreman.
As a former Union President for Local 1404, he received The Key to The City from former Mayor Ernest Brody for his contract negotiation work on behalf of city employees. He hunted and fished throughout the United States and Canada. Along with his wife of 55 years, he traveled the country and overseas including winter vacations to Florida for many years. He learned to play guitar at the age of 60 and enjoyed performing at church and retirement communities. He was a longtime active member and former Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Ottumwa.

Surviving is his wife, Jane; two sons, Matthew (Julie) Draper of Estero, FL and Mark (Sue) Draper of Muscoda, WI; a granddaughter, Keli (Nick) Moschitta; a great grandson, Tobin; siblings, Mary Ellen Cooper of Ottumwa, Sandy Findley of Ottumwa, Dave (Vera) Draper of Eagle Rock, MO, Diane (Jess) Chavez of Hiawatha, IA, and Cindy Colby of White Hall, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Herbert Draper, Martha Potter, and Clyde "CJ" Davis.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Mel Kendall officiating. Burial will be in Shaul Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church or Hospice serving Davis and Wapello Counties.

Passed Classmates