J. Bruce Bradley
August 24, 1937 – December 14, 2015
J. Bruce Bradley, age 78, of Cobb,
passed away on Monday, December 14, 2015 at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab
Center following a brief illness. Bruce was born on August 24, 1937 in
Decatur, IL to Chester and Helen (Stouffer) Bradley.
He was a 1955 graduate of
the Decatur High School. Bruce earned a B.S. in Education from
Illinois State University in 1959 and received his Master's Degree in
Mathematics from the University of Montana in 1964.
Bruce married Marge Larson of Morton
Grove, IL on May 28, 1960. His first teaching job was at the Decatur Middle
School as a Math Teacher, he then taught at Peoria High School and Mundelein
High School before taking a job as Director of Instruction at the Oconto Falls
School District in Wisconsin. He followed that by working for C.E.S.A. in
Gillett, WI.
In 1980, they moved to Cobb where
Bruce was Superintendent of the Iowa-Grant School District until 2001. He
served as Superintendent of the Benton School District from 2002 – 2005 and
again from 2006 – 2009. Living a life of service, Bruce served on the Board of
Directors for Southwest Technical College for 21 years with two terms as
President. He then served on the Southwest Tech Foundation Board until his
death.
Bruce was a founding member of the
Iowa-Grant Foundation and served on the Cobb Library Board. He was also a
member of the Badgerland Girl Scout Council Board. Bruce was a dedicated member
of the Cobb United Methodist Church where held nearly every position at one
time or another. He also served on the United Methodist Church of Wisconsin,
Board of Ordained Ministers. Bruce was a member of the Linden and Oconto Falls
Masonic Lodges. He also enjoyed fishing, golfing, spending time on the lake at
St. Germain or following the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; Marge's parents, Eric and Marie Larson and a sister-in-law, Karen
Larson. Bruce is survived by his wife, Marge of Cobb; a daughter,
Louise Bradley of Cobb; a son, Ralph (Carey) Bradley of Sun Prairie; two
grandchildren, Nicholas and Allison Bradley; a brother-in-law, Carl (Adrienne)
Larson of Tampa, Fl a niece, Dianne (Robert) Rossi of Tampa, FL as well as
cousins and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at
11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Cobb United Methodist Church with
Pastor Peter Berg officiating. Friends may call from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Friday at the Cobb United Methodist Church where Masonic Rites will be held at
8:00 P.M. Friends may also call on Saturday after 10:00 A.M. Inurnment will be
in Calvary Cemetery at a later date.
Margaret “Marge” Bradley
Sept. 20, 1938 – March 22, 2016
Margaret L. "Marge"
Bradley, age 77, of Cobb, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, Upland Hills
Nursing & Rehab Center following a lengthy illness.
The former Marge Larson was born on
Sept. 20, 1938, in St. Charles, Ill., to Eric and Marie (Hermanson) Larson. She
attended Illinois State University following High School.
Marge married J. Bruce Bradley of
Decatur, Ill., on May 28, 1960. His career in education took them to many
towns, including Peoria and Mundelein, Ill., followed by Madison and Oconto
Falls, Wis. In 1980, they moved to Cobb where Marge took on the role of the
wife of the school superintendent.
She was a dedicated member of the
Cobb United Methodist Church, the U.M.W. and served as Lay Leader to the Annual
Conference. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Lac-Baie Girl
Scout Council and the Badgerland Girl Scout Council and was a member of the
Montfort-Cobb Ditzy Chixs Red Hat Club, the Cobb Homemakers and the Tuesday
morning coffee club. Living a life of service, Marge was dedicated to her
church, the Girl Scouts and the Iowa-Grant community. Marge enjoyed being with
family and friends and especially spending time on the lake at St. Germain.
Marge is survived by a daughter,
Louise Bradley of Cobb; a son, Ralph (Carey) Bradley of Sun Prairie; two
grandchildren, Nicholas and Allison Bradley; a brother, Carl (Adrienne) Larson
of Tampa, Fla.; a niece, Dianne (Robert) Rossi of Tampa, Fla.; as well as
cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; her husband, Bruce on Dec. 14, 2015; Bruce's parents, Chester and
Helen Bradley; and her sister, Karen Larson.
Funeral services will be held at 11
a.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at the COBB UNITED METHODIST CHURCH with
Pastor Peter Berg officiating. Friends may call at the church from 4 p.m. until
8 p.m. Monday and also on Tuesday after 10 a.m. Inurnment will be in Calvary
Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the
Badgerland Girl Scout Council or the Cobb United Methodist Church would be
greatly appreciated.