One of the things that Bradley Memberto was best known for was the way he could squeeze every last drop out of each day he was given. Known as the “man with the plan” according to his daughters, Brad was a vibrant and colorful man with a contagious sense of humor. He was an avid fisherman, a loyal fan of local sports teams, and a proud member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, but first and foremost he was a dedicated family man who treasured his wife, children, and grandchildren. With what would seem to be much of his life ahead of him, Brad’s light was extinguished much too soon.

Much can be said about the sixties in America. This was a decade unlike any other in American history as the conservative fifties gave way to revolutionary new ways of thinking that forever changed the cultural fabric of our nation. The civil rights movement made great strides forward, “Women’s Lib” was born, and the hippie movement endorsed a free and natural lifestyle. This was also a time for great excitement in the family of Joseph and Evelyn (Wheeler) Memberto, Jr. as it was on November 4, 1966, that they welcomed the birth of their son, Bradley Ronald. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Bradley was the middle of three boys in his family including his older brother, Brian, and his younger brother, Robert. His father was an iron worker while his mother tended bar at Club Safari. Although his family moved around quite a bit within the area, Brad was raised in Muskegon as a young boy. He attended Nims Elementary School and enjoyed hanging out with the neighborhood kids. Brad liked catching frogs and other creatures in the nearby gully, and he usually brought his finds home. Once a rancid smell began wafting out from underneath his bed, his mother dragged out whatever “treasures” he had brought home.

As a teenager, Brad and his family moved to the Wolf Lake area in Muskegon where he played defensive end on the Oakridge High

School football team. It was also as a young man that his father taught him how to fish, instilling a passion within Brad that would remain alive and well throughout the rest of his life.

When his parents divorced, Bradley moved to Grand Rapids to live with his father and uncle for a time. Since he never cared much for school,

he didn’t finish high school, but busied himself establishing a career.

Brad began working in the sheet metal trade and became a union apprentice. He ended up working wherever they sent him throughout Michigan. Life was forever changed for Brad when he met a young woman named Tracy Vandyke. The couple began dating, and he moved in with Tracy and her daughter Nicole for a time. Together Brad and Tracy were blessed with a daughter they named Brooke. Although the relationship ended between Brad and Tracy, he kept in close contact with both of the girls and regularly spent weekends with them.

In the early nineties, Brad became reacquainted with Cynthia Glover who used to do some babysitting for him and Tracy many years earlier. This time around, there was an attraction between Brad and Cynthia that neither could deny. Brad soon moved in with Cynthia and her son, Ryan. They lived in Grand Rapids for awhile, but eventually moved back to Muskegon. Nicole and Brooke visited regularly, and Brad always treated all three children as though they were his own. In March of 2000, he and Cynthia took a trip to Las Vegas and made their love official.

With dreams of one day becoming a project manager for construction projects, Bradley went back to school. He started by getting his GED and then attended classes at Baker College for over five years. Bradley earned an associate’s degree in business administration and then went on to earn a BA in construction management and architectural design. While he was putting himself through school, Brad worked as a carpenter installing windows and doors. He also did some work for Reenders Inc. on several of their building projects.

Throughout his life, there were many things that Bradley enjoyed. He liked trips to Chicago and Florida where he loved going deep sea fishing. He even caught a barracuda while in Florida and had it mounted for his wall. In fact, Brad loved fishing anywhere including countless lakes, rivers, and streams throughout western Michigan. He was known

to drag family members or friends along with him, often at 5:30 in the morning. Bradley was a proud member of the Little River

Band of Ottawa Indians and enjoyed going to the casinos to play the slots. He was known to have quite a few “lucky streaks,” too. Brad and his brothers were avid football fans who liked following the local high school teams go through the playoffs, and he was a huge University of Michigan fan as well. When it came to music, Brad was an AC/DC fan and often listened to rap music with his kids. He could often be

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found spending time with his kids doing one thing or another, often riding on Sea-Doos or on the trampolines in the backyard. Bradley also loved his three dogs including a beagle, a Chihuahua, and a mutt that were all carrying around a few extra pounds because Brad was generous with gravy and table scraps.

Bradley Memberto was a fun-loving man with an insatiable zest for life and a bit of a wild streak, too. He loved spending time with his family above all else as they were his greatest treasure. Some will remember Bradley for his passion for fishing while others will remember him for his great sense of humor or his love for pizza, but all who knew Brad will remember him for his kind and loving heart. He will be deeply missed.

Bradley Memberto died on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Bradley’s family includes his loving wife, Cynthia Memberto; daughters, Brooke and Nicki Vandyke; son, Ryan Glover; grandchildren, Nadia and Rene; grandmother, Marie Wheeler; mother, Evelyn Herbert; brothers, Brian (Kim) Memberto with nieces, Elle and Olivia, and Robert Memberto with nephew, Ryan and nieces, Rylee and Raquel; many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Bradley was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph Sr. (Grace) Memberto and Eugene Wheeler, his father, Joseph Memberto Jr., and step-father, Douglas Herbert. A service will be held on Monday, August 16, 2010, 2:30 p.m. at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Rev. Ben Jansen officiating. Visit with Bradley’s family and friends on Monday, 1:30 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Homes - Muskegon location - Muskegon, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial donation to the family.