EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Viola M. “Vye” Bradley, 88, of Eau Claire, Wis. passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 at the Augusta Health and Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, Wis.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home in Eau Claire. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. prior to the services.

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Compton United Methodist Church in Compton. Friends may call for one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church. Interment will be at Wyoming Township Cemetery, Paw Paw.

Vye was born March 21, 1929 in Pierre, S.D.to Herman and Sarah (Madison) Hauge. She married Gene Bradley on June 14, 1949.

Survivors include one sister, Lois Fackelman of Pierre, S.D.; five loving children, two daughters, Marianne (Rick) Daw of Eau Claire, Wis. and Tari (Edgar) Poulda of Cadott, Wis.; three sons, Richard (Adelaida) Bradley of Hawaii, Bruce (Sheila) Bradley of Gordon, Wis. and Bryan (Linda) Bradley of Eau Claire, Wis.; 13 grandchildren who adored her, Doug (Lisa) Smith, Lance (Rachael) Smith, Amy Daw, Sara (Trent) Thacker, Andy (Miranda) Bradley, Becky (Chris) Fries, Elizabeth (Jake) Wik, Emily (Chayne) Bourget, Julianna and EJ Poulda, Jahn (Amanda) Bradley, and Nick (Julie) Bradley; and 18 wonderful great-grandchildren, Hunter and Hannah Smith, Peyton Thacker, Lily, Tristan, and Harper Bradley, Keegan, Kyle, Kelton, and Kasey Fries, Jillian, Owen, Deacon, and Lauren Viola Wik, Collin Bourget, Elin, Avery, and Grayson Bradley; numerous nieces and nephews; and too many friends to count.

She was reunited in heaven by the love of her life, Gene; her parents; her in-laws, RW and Mildred Bradley; three sisters and three brothers-in-law, Lucille and John Dunwoody, Angie and Ed Putman, Verna Aughenbaugh and Marvin Fackelman; one brother and his wife, Jim and Norma Hauge; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Doris and Rich Dolan.

Vye grew up in Pierre and Fort Pierre, S.D. until high school when her family moved to Compton. During her freshman year, she met the love of her life, Gene Bradley. While in high school, Vye moved in with the Dennis family to help care for their five sons. She then married her high school sweetheart. They lived and loved in Compton, where they went from a couple to a family with two daughters and three sons. While raising five children, ages 5-16, Vye returned to college where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1967. In 1968, Gene and Vye moved their family to Eau Claire, Wis., where Vye was offered a job teaching elementary school for the Eau Claire Area School District. She noticed a position for a special education teacher and asked if she could have that position instead. She began the job of her dreams as she finished her Master’s degree in special education in 1970. She would become a pioneer in the field of special education and was one of the first teachers to have a special education classroom integrated into a local junior high. She shared her gifts with many student teachers and was awarded the honor of ARC Teacher of the Year in 1991. She would often bring her students home to share a meal with her family and stayed in touch with most of them after they graduated. Three of her children and two granddaughters became teachers and followed her into the field of special education, as well.

Vye and Gene retired in 1991 and during their retirement enjoyed traveling and just being together. Vye loved to read, especially to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Throughout her life, she loved to entertain and welcomed many guests into her home. Her favorite times were holidays and celebrations when she was together with her family and friends. Those gatherings often included games of all kinds and she never missed the opportunity to play. She was very competitive and liked to win. She and Gene worked many jigsaw puzzles together, a hobby she continued until her passing. Over the years she enjoyed having puzzle races with her children and grandchildren. She loved to sing to her family and is fondly remembered for waking her children and their children by singing “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.” She and Gene played pinochle and both were skilled card players. Over the years they belonged to several card clubs. They created a tradition of teaching their children and grandchildren to play the card game Liverpool Rummy which often lasted late into the night. After making her home in the Augusta Nursing Home, she continued to enjoy playing bingo, cards and working puzzles.

She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. While living in Illinois and raising her family, she was a den mother for her sons’ Cub Scout troops. She belonged to the Lee County Home Bureau, the Compton Women’s Club, the Compton Methodist Church, and was a member of the Eastern Star for over 50 years where she and Gene were Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron in 1957. Vye and Gene were members of three card clubs and active in their community. While living in Wisconsin, she joined the YY (Youth of Yesterday), Red Hat Club, and Eau Claire Senior Center. She belonged to the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation, the Guidepost Foundation, the WSREA and the local Eau Claire Area School District Retired Teachers Association.

Vye left a legacy of love and to know her was to love her. She did not tell her children how to live; she lived and let them watch. She touched many lives and inspired others with her generosity and unconditional love for family, friends and anyone she crossed paths with. She was especially known for the cards she sent that always touched the hearts of others.

Memorials may be sent to the family in Viola’s name to be designated at a later date.