Obituary of Teresa Ann Bradley

BRADLEY TERESA ANN

Teresa Ann Bradley, age 84, of Yankton, SD passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD.  Memorial service will be 10:30 am Wednesday May 28, 2025 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Fr. Thi Pham officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Yankton. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Onsite Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Teresa Ann was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 23,1940, to Paul and Hildegard (Weinandt) Bradley. She lived on a 5 acre farm in what is now a suburb of Chicago.  In 1952, she, her parents, and younger sister, moved to an 80-acre dairy farm a few miles outside a college town, Whitewater, Wisconsin.  In 1953, a milestone year in baseball history, the Boston Braves moved their team to Milwaukee, and Teresa became an ardent baseball fan.  Her family went to several games in Milwaukee, sitting in the right field bleachers, watching some of the greatest players in that era of baseball: Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathews.  The Braves became the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee team became the Brewers, but well into her declining years Teresa was still reading biographies of the remarkable men she'd grown up watching!

Teresa attended St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School for 2 years in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and then went to Whitewater High School, which she graduated from in 1958.  After high school, she worked for many years in the cafeteria of Whitewater Teachers College, which became the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.  

When her mother and father retired from farming to live in Canon City, Colorado, Teresa moved into an apartment in Whitewater.  After her father died in 1994, Teresa’s mother moved to Yankton, SD to be close to her sisters and brothers in the area. Teresa moved to Yankton after her retirement from the University to care for her mother.  Teresa enjoyed being close in location to her many relatives in that area.

After her move to Yankton, Teresa was active volunteering in the gift shop at Sacred Heart Hospital, a member of Catholic Daughters, and an information and ‘sales lady’ at the Nebraska overlook south of Yankton. She enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories, as well as telling some of her own!

Teresa was close to many friends and relatives, maintaining contact with them whether they were in Yankton, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, or scattered all around the country. She always was excited to hear of the birth of a new family member, and remembered their names, sometimes reminding the grandparents of upcoming birthdays!  Her family and friends will miss the birthday phone calls and the Brewers/Braves updates.

Teresa had physical balance issues all her life due to complications during her birth.  When she was unable to stay in her apartment at Lincoln Arms, she moved to Walnut Village, and finally to Majestic Bluffs in Yankton.  She passed away February 5, 2025 at the age of 84 due to complications from influenza. 

Teresa is survived by her sister, Kate Bradley of Sammamish, WA, many Weinandt and Bradley cousins, as well as her lifelong and Yankton friends.  Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.  You are greatly missed, sweetheart.