Stephen Bradley

Stephen Bradley, age 80, of Petersburg, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at St. Clara’s Rehab & Senior Care in Lincoln after a long battle with brain cancer.

Born December 23, 1945 in Springfield, he was the son of Kenneth D. and Besse Jean (Shipley) Bradley. Stephen graduated from Greenview High School in 1964 and later attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 as a Sergeant during the Vietnam War.

Upon returning home, Stephen worked as a loan officer at the National Bank of Petersburg. Following his father’s death, he took over the family farming operation in the Petersburg and Greenview area in 1974, tending the land until his retirement in 2010. In later years, he worked as a tender driver at the Greenview FS Plant from 2016 until 2021. He served his community on the Greenview School Board, with the Petersburg Jaycees, and on the Menard County Farm Bureau Board.

Stephen married Lila Price on June 25, 1982; she preceded him in death in 2013. He is survived by his companion, Mary Kirby; his brother, Mark (Cindi) Bradley of Springfield; stepdaughters, Mary (Steve) Palmer of Springfield and Emily (Shane) Burton of Sherman; grandsons, Creighten Burton, Evan Coleman, and Justin Burton; “bonus” children, Landon (Jamie) Kirby and Natasha (Adam) Bacon; “bonus” grandchildren, Kirby Jo Bacon and Milo Bacon; sister-in-law, Gladys Farnam; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Kent Bradley, sister Ann Votaw, and brother-in-law Jeff Votaw.