Bradley A. Beal

Brad entered this world on March 14, 1954 to Frank and Betty Beal. Brad was baptized into God’s family on April 9, 1954 and reconfirmed his faith on April 21, 1968.  Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelations 2:10

Brad spent his youth playing with the neighborhood kids and attended Pearson Elementary School. He attended high school at Wheaton High and played football with fellow classmen. He completed his education with the class of 1972.

On July 12, 1975 he united with Marj Thorson. The love for each other would endure for forty-eight years. Their family grew with a son, Cory in 1980. Cory and Brad loved to go to stock car racing, snowmobile races and just tinker in the shop. Let’s just say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. He loved spending time at the lake with family and friends, going on pontoon rides and kicking back on the deck watching the waves go by.

Our family was blessed with a grandson in 2012, Zachary, who Brad called “Z”.  He instantly became Papa’s best buddy. Z’s famous line was “Papa can fix it.”

Brad had various jobs in his early career days. From working at Traverse Implement, Traverse Co-op Oil and Wheaton Fertilizer Plant. He began his sales career selling Case IH machinery in 1988 for Hoffman Implement in Graceville. He continued to sell until retiring in April 2023 from Titan Machinery.

Brad had a love for people, whether it was making a tractor deal, tinkering on someone’s snowmobile, or bringing home his so called “treasures” he had found or purchased. Let’s just say the quote “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” fits him perfectly.

He loved giving youth the opportunity to try snowmobile racing. He gave a young man a Polaris snowmobile to run and he made great accomplishments in the racing world. He would say, “It’s yours until you’re done racing but if you break it, you fix it.”

Brad went to his eternal rest on Friday, April 5th surrounded by the family he loved with all his heart.

Brad is survived by his wife Marj, his mother Betty Beal, son Cory (Alison); grandson, Zachary. His aunt Beverly  Hess, cousins Julie (Pat) Millard and family, Jeff (Kris) Hess and family and Marj’s extended family.

Brad was preceded in death by his father, Frank. Marj’s parents Chuck Thorson and Anna Mae Thielke; Grandparents Harold & Viola Beal and Fred & Esther Palmquist, and Uncle Clarence Hess.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Dan Gifford officiating. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 11th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Friday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton, at a later date.