Joseph F. Scraper, 86, passed away Sunday morning, Nov 13, 2016, at his home in Baldwin City. He was born April 21, 1930, in Beloit, KS to Manford and Frances (Wrench) Scraper. He was raised in Beloit, Asherville, Cawker City, and St. Mary’s. He also lived briefly in Christie, Oklahoma when his parents took the family there in a Willis Knight automobile during the 1930’s hoping to resettle there. Joe graduated from Beloit High School and attended K-State for two years before joining the Army in 1949. While in the Army he participated in atomic bomb testing near Las Vegas.
Joe married Amelia Fueser in 1956 and later married Doris Keller in 1974. He was the first full time mail carrier in Mulvane, KS, and also carried mail in Lancaster, CA, and Lawrence, KS, spending 34 years working for the U.S. Post Office.
Joe and Doris traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states as well as Mexico and Canada. He loved traveling to visit family and friends and always enjoyed attending family reunions. He was very active in the Baldwin Striders club. He often walked three miles per day until failing health sidelined him the last couple of years. Joe attended services at the Lighthouse Baptist Church and met daily with his group of friends for coffee and conversation at the local diner. In his quiet, humble way, Joe was very proud of his service to his country and whenever possible he met with his friends at the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by, his parents; his 2nd wife, Doris (Keller); his brother, Manford Scraper Jr.; his sisters, Betty Zimmerman and Peggy Sellers; and his son, Derek Anderson.
He is survived by his siblings, John Scraper of San Antonio, TX; Dotty Monaghan of Everest, KS; and Mary Kae Zerofski of Tewksbury, MA; his children, Liz (Jim) Harper of Hays; Joe Scraper Jr. of Topeka; Susan (Ron) Bradley of Wichita; Diane (Dave) King of Jefferson City, MO; James (Stacy) Scraper of North Port, FL; Stephanie (Brad) Shelley of Lawrence; Donna Bergmann of Perry, and Debi (Charles) Taylor of Lawrence; twenty grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Baldwin City Recreation Commission or Lighthouse Baptist Church in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Friends may call Friday from noon to 8 pm at the funeral home. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, service at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 19th at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, Lawrence, with Pastor Richard Austin officiating followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City, Kansas with full military honors
Rest in peace, Joe. You always had a smile and time to chat. You brought a smile to my day. I will miss you. Thanks for your service to our Nation.
Stephanie,
So sorry to hear about your father passing. I loved seeing him walk around town all of the time. He will definitely be missed in Baldwin City.
Uncle Joe, you will be missed. Your smile and kind heart I will always remember. I am glad I got to speak to you by phone recently, as the miles kept us apart. You are loved and will be missed by many. Sympathy and prayers to my cousins during this difficult time. God bless.
Baldwin City Recreation loved Joe. His smile was contagious. He always bragged about his family. I will always remember him and will truly miss seeing him and giving him a hug.
Joe and family,
So sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sorry to hear about Uncle Joe. He will be greatly missed, and always loved.