Joan I. Bradsby

Joan Irene (Brandeberry) Bradsby, age 78, passed away in an assisted living facility in Albuquerque on Friday, April 8, 2016.  Her death brought peace as she had struggled with physical ailments and Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

She was born on May 14, 1937 in Oakland, California to Jason Kermit Brandeberry and Irene (Griggs) Brandeberry; she was the only child.  As a child she lived in various locations due to her father’s job with the Forest Service.  She attended Lincoln Northeast High School and was active as a cheerleader and nominated as homecoming queen.  She graduated in 1955 and continued her education at the University of Nebraska.  She joined the Chi Omega Sorority and received her Liberal Arts degree in 1959.  

She began her home economics teaching career in Newman Grove, NE. Soon thereafter she married her high school sweetheart, Ronald L Bradsby, on June 18, 1960.  She continued teaching for several years in Nebraska and Colorado in order to help her husband through college.  Later, she was also a substitute teacher while living in Arizona and New Mexico.

They had two children; Ronnie and Lynda. Her family has fond memories of her as a gracious homemaker.  She sewed various things for the home, loved baking, and attended endless activities involving her children where she supplied snacks for all the kids.  She enjoyed making a variety of crafts over the years and entertaining family and friends with a meal and a variety of card games.  She even found time to serve on the school board while living in Mimbres, NM.  

Her hobbies and interests were numerous over the years.  They included PEO, making wedding cakes, craft fairs, collecting things like “Beanie Babies” and family memorabilia, Red Hats Society, cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers, working for American Greetings,  serving cinnamon rolls at the balloon fiesta, playing cards, knitting and selling scrubbies to help support her church, making Christmas caramel corn, and spending time with family and friends.

Left to honor and remember Joan are her children, Ronnie (Mavis) Bradsby and Lynda Bustamante; her three brothers-in-law, Raymond Keith (Marilyn) Bradsby, Larry (Shirley) Bradsby, and Richard (Phyllis) Bradsby; grandchildren, Jordan Bustamante, Reba Bradsby and Ray Bradsby; nieces and nephews, Carrie (Randy) Sclar, Richard (Veronica) Bradsby, Robyn (Sean) Roberts,  Dari (Matt) Robinson, Todd Bradsby, Tim (Ashley) Bradsby, Amy (Tim) Wing and Renee Alfaro.  Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and granddaughter, Olivia Bradsby.

Joan will be remembered for her spunk and practical jokes, her readiness to entertain with a freezer full of goodies with accessories to match any occasion, her “creative eye” abilities, her “all-in” attitude as she committed to the highest quality, her competitive spirit, her dedication to her family by requesting a “to-do” list with every visit and expressing her love with gifts.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 28, at 11:00 am at Sandia Presbyterian Church located at 10704 Paseo del Norte NE, Albuquerque.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Family Promise of Albuquerque at www.familypromiseabq.org.  Tributes can be left at http://www.danielsfuneral.com.