Dr. Bradley returned to Maple Grove Cemetery near Bonfield, Illinois to reside forever next to Marylyn in the family plot on ___________

Born March 15, 1941 on a farm near Kankakee, Illinois he was fifth of six children born to Howard and Esther Bradley. Kids actually did walk a mile and half to and from one-room country schools. Eight Bradley's lived in an old two story house with one indoor toilet and bath.

Five year-old John kept a Caterpillar tractor running in a straight line. By eight he had his own tractor pulling wagons of feed and water to cattle and hogs, tilling land, harvesting crops of corn, oats and beans, mowing hay and taking care of chickens.

In the Herscher High School Class of 59 Yearbook it is written he had "A vocabulary far suppressing his elders". Scholarship in hand he enrolled at The University of Illinois to "flunk out" in 62.

Out of options he joined the Navy, learned how to make dentures, to keep someone from bleeding out and to drive an ambulance. John was at Charlie Med Field Hospital in a rice paddy near Da Nang, Vietnam from June to December 65. Honorably discharged in 67 he used the GI Bill to return to The University of Illinois where he met pretty red-haired Marylyn Patton Bradley. Married in 1969 they were lifelong soulmates. Being students was fun and John and Marylyn eventually earned three degrees each. John often said "I wouldn't have accomplished anything without Marylyn. She was the wind beneath my wings".

Most of all John always wanted everyone he knew to have the freedom to know and pursue their own dreams and become the very best they could be. "Making Dreams Come True" was his motto and people responded to that. Over the years he received multiple awards from both the churches and organizations wherein he served. For example he was Arizona Vocational Educator of the Year.

John was Scoutmaster, Confirmation Teacher, "Grownup in Charge" on multiple field trips, lock-ins, week-long Boy Scout and Church camps where everyone played hard and slept in tents, cabins and on random floors. His Troop 401 Leadership Team met monthly until the 2020 pandemic made it impossible for "geezers" to safely gather. After 75 he helped maintain the St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Montessori School grounds.

John was a vocational educator and promoter for more than 45 years. Being born at the beginning of World War II he matured as the nation transitioned from being an agrarian society with quasi military leadership to an urban society in which excellence in technical skills and interpersonal relationship skills prevail.

John was actively involved as allied health and nursing education transitioned from being primarily personal care based apprenticeships to highly educated professions that combined advanced scientific knowledge and skills with use of advanced medical technology. That being largely completed by the mid 80's, with development of Vocational Technical Centers, Community College Occupational programs and efficient college to university articulation, he cofounded the Maricopa Community Colleges Organizational Management Program that helps men and women ascend into leadership and entrepreneurial positions.

His final 22 years were as faculty at Estrella Mountain Community College where he used the Organizational Management Program to help thousands of men and women master modern interpersonal and technical management skills as they climbed their individual career ladders.

John was privileged to live decades with smarter than him Marylyn, son Eirean, daughter Katherine, Son-in-Law Lee, granddaughter Lydia and grandsons Canaan and Deven.

Mother Esther passed away in 1981, Father Howard in 1985, Brother Jim in 2006 and Sister Alice (Lambert) in 2021. John and Marylyn will reside with them in Maple Grove Cemetery near Bonfield, Illinois. Sisters Susan (Schreifer), Carolyn (Brinkman) and Ruth (Johnson) are still among us.

Family will gather at Maple Grove Cemetery for interment at his gravesite when weather permits.