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.
In lieu of flowers, memorials for scholarships to be established in Bruce's name would be greatly appreciated.
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.