A. Lois Bradley Obituary (1938 - 2025)

Alma Lois Bradley, 87, of Ottumwa, Iowa, passed away November 14, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Ottumwa, Iowa. Per Lois’s request, her body has been cremated with a celebration of life to be held at a later date. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Lois was born in Cedar Township, Van Buren County, Iowa, September 25, 1938, to Waldo Jannings and Lorraine (Blakeley) Jannings. Lois attended Milton High School and married Don Roger Bradley on February 10, 1957, in Milton, Iowa. Alma was Lois Bradley’s first name; however, she never liked the name Alma, so it will not be include in the balance of her obituary. She resided in Milton, Iowa for the majority of her life before retiring and relocating to Ottumwa, Iowa. Lois was loving and devoted to her family as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was best known as Aunt Lois. She was a homemaker and a terrific cook and baker. She will be remembered for her famous sugar cookies, peanut brittle, blackberry cobbler, and raw apple cake. Lois provided childcare for two generations of children. Those of us that Lois raised or helped raise will hold a piece of her in our hearts, whether it was words of wisdom, her laughter, or just observing a life well lived. Lois was very giving of her time, gifts, and talents. She enjoyed gardening and canning all that she grew, usually canning with her mom and sisters by her side. She was a vivacious reader and volunteered for years at the Milton Library. It should be noted that she read every book in that library. When the first responder program began to take hold in our area, Lois, of course, volunteered and was a member of the first Milton EMS first responders. She always attended her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, especially their sporting events. Lois herself was a great basketball player in her day, shooting 25 out of 25 free throws in a competition. Lois was the eldest of six children: Jerry (Verna) Jannings, Sharon (Daryl) Johnson, Nancy (Fred) Zeitler, Victoria (Vic, per Lois) Besco, and Julie (Bobby) Hart. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don Bradley, sister Nancy Zeitler, brother-in-law Darrell Bradley, and sister-in-law Mary (David) Bradley. Left to share her story are her four children, Becky (Joe) Rehm, Dusty (Lindy) Bradley, Lindi (Jeremy) Thomas, and Doug (Regenia) Bradley; her grandchildren, Tanner Rehm, Ryan (Brenda) Rehm, Andrew (Sherri) Bradley, Aric (Lorinda) Bradley, Alexandra (Ted) Ford, Jessica Thomas, Jordan (Aaron) Batten, Chloe Bradley, and Harper Bradley; her great-grandchildren, Briar Batten, Brooks Batten, Lucy Bradley, Isla Bradley, Giana Ford, and Archer Ford, and a baby Ford on the way, as well as many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and cousins. Lois will be greatly missed. Her home was open to friends and family, taking in any family member that needed a place to lay their head. We will miss her array of snow globes at Christmas time and her collection of rolling pins, along with the best smells coming from her kitchen at every holiday where the entire family always gathered. Lois and her sister Nancy have gone ahead to prepare a place for us as well as a feast.