Robert Bernard Bradley

Robert (Bob) Bernard Bradley, age 85, originally of Ottumwa, Iowa, died peacefully on December 4, 2021 surrounded by his beloved family at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, NE after a short battle with lung cancer.

Born March 31, 1936 in Ottumwa, IA to Bernard and Fern (Pollock) Bradley Bob was the oldest of three children. He graduated from Walsh Catholic High School in the Class of 1954. Bob studied at St. Ambrose College before joining the US Navy in 1955, serving seven years.  He met the love of his life, Donna, 64 years ago and together they raised four children.

A pioneer in the new field of computers, his career took him and his family all over the Midwest from Chicago to Minneapolis to Denver. Wanting to be closer to family, they returned to Ottumwa in 1971, where Bob spent 20 years as a Systems Analyst for John Deere. But his love for Colorado pulled him back out West, where he spent several years in Aurora, CO with Martin-Marietta, until finally returning closer to home.  Omaha became home, where he retired from First Data Corporation.

He took great pride in his work and community activities. When his girls wanted to play softball and there was no league, Bob served on the YWCA committee that founded the Ottumwa Girls Softball League. He represented St. Mary’s Church on the joint committee that petitioned the dioceses to bring Catholic education back to Ottumwa, establishing Seton Catholic School.

Bob had a beautiful tenor voice; he and Donna performed in several Ottumwa Community Players musicals where they showcase their incredible singing and dancing skills.

There were three things Bob loved above all - his family, the Rocky Mountains, and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Many family vacations were spent camping in Rocky Mountain National Park, feeding the chipmunks on Trail Ridge Road or watching elk in Aspen Glen.  Saturdays in the fall were reserved for Iowa football. Bob adored his grandchildren and frequently travelled to watch their many plays, concert, softball games and soccer matches. Much to his delight, last year he became a great-grandfather.

Bob will be lovingly remembered by his cherished wife, Donna Bradley (nee Murphy); children, Kim (Jon) Lange of Plainview MN, Scott Bradley of Papillion NE, and Mike (Christina) Bradley of Papillion NE; grandchildren, Nicholas (Carrianne) Lange, Aaron Bradley, Emma Lange, and Jessica (Duncan) Park; great-grandchild Rena Park. He is reunited with his family members who preceded him in death: daughter, Lisa Bradley; parents, Bernard & Wilma (nee Pollock) Bradley; siblings, George (Sharon) Bradley and Jean (Steve) Siebold.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held for Robert (Bob) Bernard Bradley, age 85, originally of Ottumwa, Iowa, at 10:30 am Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 222 N Ward Street, Ottumwa with Fr. Patrick J. Hilgendorf presiding. In lieu of flowers, Memorials have been established to the Josie Harper Hospice House of Omaha NE or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home and Crematory, ATTN: Bradley Family, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544.