Eilef L. Bradford Obituary (1929 - 2011)

Eilef LaVerne "Brad" Bradford, age 81, formerly of the Menomonie, WI area, died July 09, 2011, in Palmer, Alaska. A service will be held this Thursday at the Kehl's Funeral Home in Palmer at noon. A Masonic service by Menomonie Lodge 164 F. & A.M. followed by a Funeral Service with Pastor James Harrington of the Knapp United Methodist Church officiating, will take place at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie, Wisconsin. There will be visitation at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Knapp, WI at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Mr. Bradford was born November 3rd, 1929, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Menomonie High School in 1948 and was an active football player and a Golden Glove boxing champ. He married Mary Lou Mertes on December 18th, 1949, in Knapp, Wisconsin. He worked for Great Northern Railroad and then Whirlpool in St. Paul. He then established a business near Knapp known as "Brad's Hi-Way Grocery" in 1956, selling gas, merchandise, hosting outdoor movies and a small nightclub. While operating the store he established "SkyPort" airport, rebuilt several airplanes, flew around the midwest fishing and hunting, hosting breakfast fly-ins, and started the Stout State University Flying club. In 1963 he attended an Aircraft Maintenance School in Minneapolis, and then worked as a sheet metal mechanic for Northwest Airlines in 1965. He came to Anchorage in 1971, continuing his airline career as an aircraft mechanic, rebuilding airplanes, flying the Alaskan bush hunting and fishing. He lived in Alaska for 35 years, with a short time in Seattle, before moving to Palmer in 1999. In retirement, he continued flying, worked on small aircraft as Brad's Airmotive, and spent time at the airport. Mr. Bradford was a member of the Masonic Organization for 60 years, achieving the 32nd degree, and also a member of the AL ASKA Shriners, and the Scottish Rite. His family wrote:"Brad's yearning for knowledge and openess to meet and get to know everyone were an inspiration to his family. He lived his life with integrity and honesty." One of his sayings was, "The word to the wise should be sufficent". He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, daughter Mary Lee (Adolph) Barton, son Gene, daughter Melody, son Ethan (Lori), 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, sister Ione Waller, sister-in-laws Avis (Bill) Marsh, Sylvia Kuester, and nephew Brad.