Bradley James Strothkamp

Bradley James Strothkamp left us, far too early, on May 10th, 2025 at the age of 58.
He was born on November 23, 1966, completely upending the family Thanksgiving that year. He was the eldest child of Robert Strothkamp and Mary (Sparks) Strothkamp, and soon became an older brother to Kristy, whom he loved and never tired of tormenting, even as an adult.
Brad spent his younger years on the lakes and rivers of the Ozarks, floating, camping, fishing, and swimming. He enjoyed spending time at the family cabin, as well as on his dad's houseboat. Brad learned car repair and body work from his stepdad "Hap" Olaf Hider, and worked with exotic animals alongside his stepmother, Charlie Strothkamp.
Always an excellent student, Brad spent a semester in Scotland with his Uncle Jim and family, then returned to Parkview High School and graduated in 1984. Having caught the traveling bug, Brad took off to backpack Europe and the Middle East with a buddy, and shared stories of those adventures for the rest of his life. When the money ran out, Brad came back to Springfield and went to college at SMSU, graduating with a degree in Marketing in 1996. Brad had a few different jobs through these years, including the Humane Society, and Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro was where he met his first wife, Karen. Married in 1996, the two moved to South Korea to teach English and do some more travelling, this time in East Asia. After returning to the US, he began working as an Information Technology specialist at Lakeland Behavioral Health Hospital, eventually becoming the IT Administrator. Brad met his current wife, Esther Strickland in 2010 while at Lakeland.
Esther and Brad spent fifteen years together traveling, laughing, joking and finding ways to prank each other and merge their eccentricities. Brad lovingly uncomplainingly cared for Esther after a serious accident in 2020 and together they made it through that and many other challenges stronger in their love for one another.
Brad had countless hobbies, projects and ideas. He loved working with his hands, was good at whatever he set his mind to and was particularly skilled at origami and quilling. His tiny paper works of art have been gifted to many friends and family and he was even responsible for creating new origami shapes, which were subsequently published. At times he took special requests, always refusing to accept payment for his time and effort. Another gift from Brad to those around him was his sense of humor and play. A prank, well-executed and delivered, was one of his greatest joys. No detail was too small, no process too difficult, if it meant someone would get an unexpected surprise, and his laughter when a prank landed was contagious.
Brad was also emphatic and passionate about helping others and he would truly give anyone anything, and probably never once said no when asked a favor. As he became better at building computers, he gave them away for free to single mothers and others who were disadvantaged. He never refused to help friends and family move and was always available to help, no matter the hour or the need. He painted countless houses, moved countless people, helped with countless broken-down cars and so on. He was that one person that people knew they could always count on, day or night.
Brad was preceded in death by his grandparents, uncles Raymond, Billy and Donald, and stepdad Hap Hider. He is survived by his wife Esther, his parents, his sister Kristy and her husband Mark, his nephew Terry Shaffer, niece Elisabeth Looney and her husband Dayton and children Marie and Colten, aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as by many other family and friends.
In truth, Bradley Strothkamp was the best of us and we probably did not deserve him, nor fully appreciate the treasure we had. I, for one, did not deserve him. We were all incredibly fortunate to have him in our lives in any capacity and are the better for having known him. He was the kindest, most sensitive person I have ever had the privilege of knowing so well and he will be terribly and acutely missed. I am humbled to have been a part of his life. His loss is something that I am unsure I can endure. Until we meet again across the bridge, I will be always looking across the waters my love.