Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
ONTONAGON, Mich. - Marland L. Bradley, 88, of Ontonagon, formerly of Bessemer, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 in Ontonagon.
He was born March 24, 1927, in Bessemer, the son of Andrew and Elvira (Julien) Bradley.
Marland graduated from A.D. Johnson High School in Bessemer in 1944. Marland served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. On June 21, 1952, he married Gertie Wuorela. She preceded him in death on July 30, 2012.
As a young man, he enjoyed flying small planes. After World War II, he worked for his uncle's roofing company, drove the Ironwood city bus and then left the area to work for Nash Motor Corporation. He returned to the area to work in the iron mines.
In 1957, he began working for the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission and relocated to Ontonagon to manage the store until his retirement. He was a member of Siloa Lutheran Church in Ontonagon.
Since Marland's retirement, he enjoyed numerous winters in Florida. In his spare time, he loved to hunt, fish, golf, play cribbage, crochet and work in the garden.
He will be sadly missed by his children, family and friends.
He is survived by four children, Eileen (Dave) Mathy, of Durango, Colo., Darrell Bradley, of Ontonagon, Lynn (Dan) Huotari, of Marshfield, Wis., and Laura (Steve) Zimmel, of Flower Mound, Texas; his seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn and Neil; and a sister, Jean Bergquist.
A private family service will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer on Thursday morning, with Rev. Nancy Kauppi officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Bessemer American Legion Post 27 and VFW Post 3673, combined honor guard.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on this Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Ontonagon VFW.
Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home in Ironwood. Private online condolences may be sent to [email protected].
