Joseph Craig Bradach, 46, passed away June 9, at Harney District Hospital.

Joe was born Jan., 15, 1970, in Burns to George and Belva Bradach. Joe was raised on a ranch in Burns, with his older sister, Rosemary, and brother, Chad. Joe was baptized in the Catholic faith, was an alter server, and remained active in the church.

Joe was married to Michelle Brown on Nov. 28, 1998, and soon after filled his home with four beautiful children, Isobel, Zane, Josie, and Jack Bradach, who were his pride and joy, and who he never stopped talking about. Joe was a caring and very involved uncle to his nieces and nephews, Kaylyn, Megan, Jacob, Joshua, Jonathan, Sophia, Oliver, Andrew, Henry, Emily, and Charlie, who he always had time and love for.

Growing up, Joe was doted on by his older siblings and parents, and was always the baby of the family. He enjoyed reading, and played multiple sports during his childhood, and eventually football in his high school years. He was active in 4-H, and raised several market animals, a part of his life he also carried on to his children. Joe had an affinity for Star Wars, a passion he carried into adulthood. He had several friends growing up, and was especially close with Luis Iturriaga, Eric Hoover, and Bill Delepierre. He spent a lot of time during these years reenacting Star Wars, being chased by his older brother, camping, running through sprinklers, snowmobiling, collecting strange pets, and building the best blanket forts known to man.

During high school, Joe ran track, played football, thoroughly enjoyed metal shop, and played saxophone in the school band.  Joe and Michelle were friends throughout high school, and during spirit week, she sported his jersey for powder puff. Joe was the protector to his friends. He and friends also formed a grunge band, which surely should have made them famous.

After graduating from Burns High School, Joe went on to study at COCC and TVCC, eventually returning to Burns to start his career in the helping field. Joe was passionate about this career and touched many lives. He began at Kirkland in 1992 as a caseworker and group home manager for troubled youth, and moved on to work at Oregon Youth Authority as a group life coordinator, Harney Behavioral Health as a caseworker and behavior modification specialist, Burns Paiute Tribe as a youth counselor and alcohol and drug specialist, eventually returning to Symmetry Care as a mental health therapist in 2012.  Joe loved being a therapist, and strived to always do the best by his clients. He was passionate about learning so that he could bring the most to their lives daily.  He especially loved working with children and had the goal of making change in the world, one person at a time; though on the hard days, he would say that it was about time to open the book-comic book-coffee-wine-flower shop, where he could sit, read, sip, and smell the flowers with Michelle.

Joe returned to his education later in life, and was proud to have completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology and family studies, Psi Chi, in 2006 at Corbin College, and his master’s of social work in 2011, Phi Alpha, at Northwest Nazarene University, all the while raising his children, participating in their extra-curricular activities, and working full time.  To say that he was inspiriting to his peers would be an understatement.

Joe loved to learn and studied Greek mythology, religions, and, most importantly, his family’s genealogy. As Michelle says, if only he had gone on Jeopardy, they would have been millionaires. Joe loved reading, writing, and music, and attended numerous metal concerts with his family and friends, times that he especially cherished and held close to his heart.

Joe was an active hobbyist, and enjoyed participating and teaching others the things he learned. He enjoyed playing chess, folding origami, riding vintage motorcycles, dirt bike racing, camping, combing tide pools at the beach, exploring museums with his children, cooking, creating intricate birthday cakes, barbecues, forging knives, wood carving, drawing, fencing, gardening, making sock monkeys, Rendezvous at Yellow Jacket (black powder shooting and tomahawk and knife throwing were his favorites), and golf.  He also collected guns, books, Star Wars memorabilia, comic books, coins, stamps, and memories with his family. He appreciated sports, and loved the Raiders and the Blazers, but especially watching and coaching his kids’ teams, where he was always the mouthy one in the crowd.

Joe was a devoted husband, father, family member, and friend.  Most of all, he wanted us to be happy and well. He will be dearly missed by our family and community, but never forgotten, for he touched so many lives in such a profound and impactful way.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, June 18, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Joseph Bradach Memorial Fund and taken to Umpqua Bank, where an account is set up.