Stephen A. Bradley

Stephen was a man of service to the nation and his community, serving as Military Police in the Army from 1966-1973, and then as an elected Police Commissioner for the Village of Jerome from 1974-1984, where he was instrumental in establishing the Sangamon County 911 system.

He had a huge heart, especially for people in need, and was an active Red Cross volunteer aiding in the national response to the tornados and flooding in Nashville and Jackson, TN, Biloxi, MS, and Raleigh, NC. Stephen delivered food, water, managed public relations and worked for weeks after disasters handling cost recovery. Steve never left a person or a pet unfed, and often spent his own money to buy supplies for victims and ice cream for the kids. When he was back in Springfield, he managed the urban response vehicle fleet, making sure that the Red Cross was always ready to respond.

He loved history and was part of the state and national leadership of the Sons of American Revolution, serving as the Springfield Chapter President, Illinois President, Vice President General of the Great Lakes Region, Chair of the State Presidents’ Council, and supporting the formation of the Ladies Auxiliary, ensuring his wife, Jane, was never left out of the festivities. Placing flags on patriots’ graves, flag ceremonies, and organizing the scholarship program were points of pride.

Stephen always gave 200% and when he was in high school always ran the half-mile. When he arrived at the 1965 meet, there were too many athletes running in the category. His coach didn’t have a participant for the two-mile, which Steve had never run. Not only did he win the race but, he ensured Bowling Green, OH placed first in the conference championship.

He was a man before his time and had a remarkable, albeit mischievous, sense of humor, filling aftershave bottles with whiskey and gifting them to his brother, Don III, as he started a new job. It took months before Don realized he had been splashing the “good stuff” over his face. Now brands from Dior to Bath and Body Works market colognes with the essence of bourbon, and there is never a family reunion where the story isn’t told.

Steve loved a good adventure and organized family vacations to dozens of countries from Haiti and Venezuela to his beloved canoe trips to the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. He rode burros to the top of mountains, hiked waterfalls, traveled through tropical forests on a bamboo raft, and rowed between his favorite camping islands. No active military coup or intervention stopped him from living authentically and sharing those experiences with his family.

Professionally, Steve was a plant accountant at Central Illinois Public Service Company from 1971-1998 and for the Comptroller of the State of Illinois from 2000-2009. He graduated from Lincoln Land Community College with an associate degree in supervisory management and with a Bachelor of Arts in labor relations from Sangamon State University. He later volunteered for 20 years as a House Manager at the University’s Sangamon Auditorium, ensuring that every guest enjoyed the performances.

Steve was a faithful member of Laurel United Methodist Church, cherishing the weekly fellowship with his church family following his favorite Sunday morning worship services with the God’s House band.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years Jane (Thompson); daughter, Becky Bradley (Joshua Smoyer) of Germansville, PA; son, Stephen Bradley II of Springfield, IL; great aunt, Martha Bradley of Springfield, IL; brother Don Bradley III (Jan McClain) of Conway, AR; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved grand-dogs Jimi Lee, Roscoe, and Luna.

Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023, at Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 S. Grand Ave W., Springfield. A ceremony will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. Kent Lolling officiating.

Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be made to support the construction of the Sons of the American Revolution Education Center and Museum by clicking HERE.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.