John Charles Brady

John Charles Brady, 76 of Tomah, Wisconsin, passed away on January 8, 2023 at Edison Manor, New Castle, PA after suffering a stroke a year ago.

John was born on June 13, 1946 in Sparta, WI, only child of John P. and Cecelia (Lobenstein) Brady. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic grade school in 1960 and Tomah High School in 1964. He married Leslie Rice on October 17, 1970 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tomah.

John worked with his father in the excavating business most of his life. He started work carrying newspapers as a boy then worked at Coast to Coast Hardware store while in high school. John joined the Army National Guard and went to basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky. He was a member of Tomah’s 73rd Maintenance Battalion from 1965 to 1974. He also worked at MATES at Fort McCoy and CSMS at Camp Williams, Camp Douglas, WI as a Production Controller in maintenance. However, his love was excavating, at which he was actively working until his stroke.

John enjoyed piloting his homebuilt Rans S-7 Courier airplane and he was a founding member of chapter 935 of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Assoc) and was a lifetime member of EAA and a long time volunteer at the annual fly-in Oshkosh, WI. He was also an accomplished accordion player and, as a teenager, he was a member of the Accordionaires of the LaCrosse Music Conservatory. He was taught by the nuns at St. Mary’s Catholic School. John continued to play almost every day at home. He was a prior director of the AWSC Snowmobile Association and belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Leslie of West Pittsburg, PA, his son John (Heather) and grandson Connor of Winona, Minnesota. Also, his brothers-in-law Del (Deanna) Rice of Riverside, CA, and Scott Rice of New Castle, PA, sisters-in-law Tracey Johnson Brookins (Cameron) of West Pittsburgh, PA, Billie (Paul) Bryant of Murrieta, California, and special friend and helper, Jimmy Campbell. John was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws: Terrence and Florence Rice, Kelly Rice, and Jeff Johnson.

Those who knew John know he led to talk and visit. He was very proud of his son and grandson, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. We want to thank the staff at both Carriage Manor and Edison Manor for their great care of John.

Marshall Funeral Home of Wampum, PA, provided cremation services and Sonnenburg Funeral Home of Tomah will provide burial services. A private service will be held later this year and burial will take place at St. Mary’s Queen of the Apostles Cemetery in Tomah, Wisconsin.

Online Condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com