Sylvia Darlene Bradley

Sylvia Darlene (Linderwell) Bradley, 91, of Manchester, Iowa, lived life to the fullest and she came to a peaceful end surrounded by her loved ones on April 2, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at The Alley “1110 E Main St, Manchester, IA 52057” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inurnment will follow at Campton Cemetery rural Lamont, Iowa. Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester is in charge of arrangements.

Sylvia was born on January 20, 1934, to Ernest and Sylvia (Newton) Linderwell on a farm outside of Lamont and made her ride home in a horse drawn sleigh in freezing temperatures. Luckly, she was born into a warm and loving family that ended up including 12 brothers and sisters, so she always had playmates. The family showed their love through food, picnics, and practical jokes, which continued through all of their lives and was a tradition passed down to the next generations.

She attended and graduated from high school in Lamont, Iowa, and then went to live in the big city of Cedar Rapids with her sister and worked at Wilson’s in the office. She came back home almost every weekend, with a new dress, to attend a local dance at one of the dance halls and that is where she met the love of her life. A few short months after their first meeting, Sylvia was united in marriage to Donald Bradley at the Little Brown Church in Nasuha.

During their 50 plus years together, they made their homes in Lamont, Maynard and Manchester before finding their forever home near Oneida. Don handled the farming, and Sylvia cultivated an impressive vegetable and flower garden. In addition, she worked at the Jr. Kindergarten building for over 10 years as an aide, bringing smiles to lots of little faces. While farming, they raised two boys but never had a girl. Don always told her “Don’t worry, you will have granddaughters.” Sure enough, the first five grandchildren were beautiful girls. Sylvia was one of those rare grandmothers that were able to instill grace, a sense of humor, and love for life in her kids and grandkids.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Steven (JoAnn) Bradley, David Bradley; grandchildren, Andrea (Gary Schmidt), Tania Bradley, Denise (Adam) Schechinger, Tiffany (Chris) Hansel, Sarah (Mike) McDowell, Trent Bradley, Bryon (Megan) Bradley, Samantha (Keith) Eibey, Brianne Bradley, Blake Bradley, Drew Bradley, Skye (fiance’ Justin) Bradley; great-grandchildren, Hannah (fiance’ Kyle), Vance, Grant (fiancé Hannah), Sophie, Athena, Molly, Zander, Jet, Leo, Sam, Wyatt, Max, Aliyah, Harper, Bennett and Luke; great-great grandchildren, Gabe, Owen, Miya; a sister, Sharon Allen; sisters-in- laws, Luella, Sharon and Virgina Linderwell and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Bradley in 2003; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Schmidt; and her siblings, Delmer, Herschell (Esther), Shorty (Dot), Ernest, Arnold, Bill, Kenny Linderwell, Martha (LaVerne) Ahrens, Delores (Ernie) Hillmer, Irene (Duane) Weyant, and Eileen (James) Walsworth.

Memorials in Sylvia’s memory may be directed to Care Initiatives Hospice.