Centennial, Colorado - Bernard Lee Draper, of Centennial, Colorado, died on December 27, 2025, at the age of 96. Bernard, whose friends also called him Bern or Bernie, died at home in his sleep, with family present. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who lived a life of faith, family, and medical practice.

Bern Draper was born February 6, 1929, in Nebo, Illinois, to Sidney and Gladys (Sutton) Draper. He graduated from Nebo High School, one of four classmates in the small farming community. Bern earned a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, a Bachelor of Science in Medicine from University of Illinois, and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

While a medical student in Chicago, Bern met a lovely blue-eyed nurse named Jacqueline Joy Blaauw. Bern was smitten. He married Jacqueline (Jaci) on August 28, 1953, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The service was presided by Jaci's father, Bern's future father-in-law, the Rev. Jacob Blaauw. The couple lived in Detroit, where their first child, Mary Beth, was born in 1954.

Bern and Jaci were called to the mission field by the Reformed Church of America and served in the Middle East from 1956 to 1961. As missionaries, they provided medical care and teaching the Gospel in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and other Muslim countries. Their first son, Mark, was born in Amara, Iraq, in 1957, and their son Dirk was born two years later in Muscat, Oman. Bern and Jaci returned to the United States, in time for their son John to arrive in 1961, in Detroit, Michigan.

Bern's professional legacy includes nearly 30 years of private practice as an OB/GYN in Detroit, Michigan, and Boonville and Rolla, Missouri; and teaching at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. In 1986, Bern ceased private practice and worked as a locum tenens for eight years, during which time he and Jaci travelled the country "pinch hitting" for medical practices from Alaska to North Carolina. Bern was a Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and he served as the Chief Medical Officer of the Phelps County Memorial Hospital in Rolla. Bern estimated he had delivered more than 4,000 babies in his medical career. After retiring from private practice, Bern and Jaci resumed service as medical missionaries for eight years, intermittently travelling to communities and hospitals in Pakistan, Lebanon, and India.

Bern's personal legacy is most evident in his family. Known simply as "Dad" to his 4 children and their spouses, Bern loved to be called Grandpa or Uppa Great by his 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He learned early that he needed a hook to get the attention of the new babies as they arrived, and so he taught the third and fourth generations that his shirt pocket always contained some candy for them. And somehow, their parents never objected to the pre-dinner sweet treats.

His personal legacy prominently includes his strong Christian faith, and a lifetime of sharing that faith. Bern served on the Missions Board of the Evangelical Presbyterian denomination and of Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He and Jaci hosted the InterVarsity chapter at the University of Missouri-Rolla for 10 years and hosted the Young Life group when their children were in high school. Bern served in several churches' lay leadership roles, and he taught adult education classes at several churches. Bern loved singing, especially hymns, and we know that in Heaven his voice is finally pitch-perfect.

Bern lived an active and energetic "life of the mind." He was an avid reader - he especially enjoyed theology, Western history, and natural history - and kept librarians at Holly Creek Retirement Community busy until just weeks before he passed away. His hobbies included photographing wildflowers, playing card games, researching family genealogy, bluegrass music, and making homemade ice cream. He earned his license as a private pilot, and owned three airplanes, each progressively more powerful, that he loved to fly.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Jacqueline Draper. He is survived by 4 children and their spouses that he treated as his own children: Mary (Gene) Yow, Mark (Cheryl) Draper, Dirk (Jeanie) Draper, and Dr. John (Jeanne) Draper, formerly of Parker; 11 grandchildren: Jonathan and Stephen Yow, Benjamin, Daniel, and David Draper, Jenny (Walsh), Caroline, and Jake Draper, and Luke, Madeline, and Lydia (Hutchison); and 10 great-grandchildren: Allison (Smeby), Jackson, Charlotte, Ezra, Violet, Eliza, Vivian, Jesse, Winter, and Necoda. He also is survived by his brother, Dr. Gary (Mary) Draper, of Springfield, Illinois, and seven nieces and nephews. Bern was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Gladys Draper.

Memorial Services celebrating Bern's life and faith will be held January 17, at 3pm at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church, with light refreshments to follow.

Flowers may be ordered from Parker Blooms florist - www.parkerblooms.com, 303-841-5515.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Global Scholars (www.global-scholars.org), P.O. Box 12147 Overland Park, KS 66282.