Zachary Emerson Bradner

Zachary Emerson Bradner was born on July 27, 1993, and passed away on March 8, 2026. He lived his life with energy, humor, and a deep passion for racing that began in childhood and never faded.

From an early age, Zachary could be found tearing around Sugar Creek Golf Course in golf carts with his stepdad, Dusty Rodawalt, and helping Sandy at the course. Family sprint car trips, a mini sprint purchased by his Grandpa Jim Bradner, and later work at Fremont Speedway all fed his love for anything with an engine and a track. He cherished cold drinks, good friends, sharp wit, and being the life of the party. A loyal Cleveland Browns fan through even the most difficult seasons, he also followed the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cavaliers, while maintaining a soft spot for animals. He rescued a dog named Benjamin from a difficult situation and shared his apartment with a large cat named Sebastian who clearly ran the household. In recent years he had even begun exploring cooking, much to the surprise of those who knew him best for his sarcasm and fun-loving spirit.

Zachary shared a close but teasing relationship with his younger brother, Nathan Krebs, whom he respected deeply. He held a special place in his heart for his Gigi, Sue Lohr, and treasured childhood memories of traveling across the country to sprint car races with Great-Grandma Bailey (Chris Roepke) and Scott. His stepdad Dusty was a steady presence in his early years, sharing golf course adventures, camping trips, and racing memories. Time spent in Chicago with his dad, John D. Rogers, stepmom Carrie, and his grandparents allowed him to build meaningful relationships and enjoy the outdoors in new ways.

He is survived by his mother, Sheryl Bradner of Elmore; his father, John D. Rogers (Carrie) of Elgin, Illinois; his brother, Nathan Krebs of Minnesota; grandparents Sue and Duane Lohr of Elmore, Jim and Marsha Bradner of Manistee, Michigan, and Lawrence and Barbara Rogers of Bloomingdale, Illinois; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by Great-Grandpa Geezer (Jim) and Grandma Bailey (Chris) Roepke, and Great-Grandparents Dorothy and Gilbert Bradner.

Those who knew Zachary will remember his laughter, his racing stories, the late nights with friends, and the way he made even ordinary moments feel alive. He asked that people take care of one another, be kind, and think of him whenever they hear a race engine roar.