DALE G. BRADLEY
1934-2023
Dale Grant Bradley was born to Charles and Eunice (Braun) Bradley in Eaton, Colorado, the oldest of three children. The family moved from Colorado to several midwestern Nebraska towns before settling in Auburn, Nebraska. The once mile record holder (4:48) at Auburn High School enrolled at Peru State College where he would graduate with a degree in education and go on to be a teacher.
Dale married Darlene Ann Lotter on May 26th, 1957, in their home town of Auburn. The couple met while working at the Hinky Dinky supermarket. After a brief teaching stint in Mound City, Missouri, Dale and Darlene moved to Deshler, Nebraska where he became the industrial arts teacher, girls basketball coach and boys track coach. While in Deshler he earned his master’s degree during summers at Emporia State in Kansas. They had two children while in Deshler, Dale (1958) and Brian (1964). In 1969 the family moved back to Auburn and operated the Dairy Sweet for one year before Dale returned to teaching at Auburn High School. While the business was extremely lucrative, he and Darlene decided it took too much time away from the family. He would eventually become the head cross country and track coach for Auburn leading the teams to numerous state appearances while molding young athletes into productive and respected citizens.
Dale retired from teaching in 1982 and began a construction business. His talents were sought after by legions of customers all over southeast Nebraska due to his expert carpentry skills and penchant for perfection, not to mention his habit of severely undercharging for his services. But that was Dale in a nutshell. He never did anything for the money. During this time he served on the board of directors for the Auburn Church of Christ and contributed countless hours of service to many projects for the congregation. He was also a prolific blood donor giving double digit gallons of his rare blood type over the years.
In September of 2016 Dale lost his lifelong love when Darlene passed away after a long battle with dementia. He never recovered from that loss, and it is only appropriate that he chose Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023, to reunite with his forever sweetheart.
Dale is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law Dale and Janice of Aurora, CO, Brian and Sandy of Auburn; grandchildren Cody (Kelsey) Bradley, Bryce (Yudid) Bradley, Taylor Bradley, Isaiah Bradley, Natasha (Jake) Hedden, Mariah (Chase) Christiansen; 11 great-grandchildren; brother Keith of Falls City; sister Sherry Walker of Papillion; other relatives and friends.
A funeral service, officiated by Rev. Nate Powell, was Monday, February 20, 2023, at the Auburn Christian Church. Janell Johnson accompanied congregational singing. Casket bearers were Cody Bradley, Bryce Bradley, Taylor Bradley, Isaiah Bradley, Jake Hedden, and Chase Christiansen. Natasha Hedden and Mariah Christiansen were honorary bearers. Burial was in Sheridan Cemetery near Auburn.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.