Dr. John L. Bradley returned to Maple Grove Cemetery near Bonfield, Illinois to reside forever next to Marylyn, his wife for fifty-five years, in the family plot on ___________

Born March 15, 1941 on a farm near Kankakee, Illinois John was fifth of six children born to Howard and Esther Bradley. Eight Bradley's lived in an old two story house with one indoor toilet and bath. They actually did walk a mile and half to a one-room country school no matter what the weather.

Life then was different on the farm and we were valuable farm hands. At five years of age John drove a Caterpillar tractor. By eight he had his own tractor pulling wagons to haul feed and water to livestock, till land, harvest crops of corn, oats and beans and mow hay. Homework was taking care of livestock. He never did school work at home and he and sister Carolyn cared for chickens eventually selling enough eggs to buy the family a television .

In the Herscher High School Class of 59 yearbook it is written "John had a vocabulary far suppressing his elders" which wasn't a compliment. Scholarship in hand he matriculated to The University of Illinois in 59 to "flunk out" in 62.

Out of options John joined the Navy, learned how to take care of teeth, make dentures, wear a Marine uniform, shoot an M14, keep someone from bleeding out and drive an ambulance. At Charlie Med near Da Nang, Vietnam June to December 65 and all of 66 in Hawaii he was Honorably discharged in December 66. A more mature John than used the GI Bill to return to The University of Illinois where he met pretty red-haired Marylyn Patton Bradley in May 1967. Married in 1969 they were lifelong soulmates. Being students was fun and they eventually earned three degrees each for a total of six.

According to John "Marylyn was the wind beneath my wings". She took care of the hard jobs of raising children and managing household finances as John ran wild. Scoutmaster, Confirmation Teacher, "Grownup in Charge" on field trips, lock-ins, Boy Scout and Church camps John was always where everyone played hard, slept in tents, cabins and on random floors, organizing and managing professional associations that promoted vocational education while working about 60 hours a week earning a living. After his 75th birthday John helped maintain the St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Montessori School grounds.

Born at the beginning of World War II John was attentive as the nation transitioned from quasi military leadership to an urban society where excellence in technical and interpersonal relationship skills prevail. In fact that is what he taught for most of his professional career. He was there as allied health and nursing education transitioned from being primarily personal care based apprenticeships to being highly educated professions that combined advanced scientific knowledge and skills with use of advanced medical technology. John spent his life "Making Dreams Come True".

His major professional accomplishment was cofounding the Maricopa Community Colleges Organizational Management Program that helps men and women start and own their own businesses and and become leaders. His final 22 years were at Estrella Mountain Community College where he used the Organizational Management Program to help thousands of men and women master the modern interpersonal and technical management skills each needed to climb their career ladders. Among many awards John was Arizona Vocational Educator of the Year.

For more than five decades John had the joy of living with smarter than him Marylyn, with son Eirean, daughter Katherine, Son-in-Law Lee, granddaughter Lydia and grandsons Canaan and Deven.

Marylyn passed away in 2025, Mother Esther 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.