Willard “Bill” E. Bratton

Willard “Bill” E. Bratton

Cedar Rapids

Willard “Bill” E. Bratton, 80, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away at the UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.

A visitation will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, from noon until service time at 2 p.m. with Jonathan Heifner officiating. Interment to follow at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery-Garden of Tranquility. A reception will follow at the Cedar Memorial Park Family Center.

Bill was born on Feb. 7, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was the son of the late Herbert Charles and Helen (Kozar) Bratton. On July 6, 1962, Bill married the love of his life, Barbara Stookey, in Iowa City, Iowa. He loved to travel and classic cars. He was an extremely hard worker, owning his own construction/snow plowing company and being a mechanic at various businesses. Bill loved to take time to celebrate the little things in life. We will miss his sense of humor, orneriness along with his colorful language, and stories.

Those left to cherish Bill’s memory are his wife Barbara of Cedar Rapids; his children, Jonathan (Lori) Bratton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, David (Angela) Bratton of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Barbara (Bob) Ross of Ottumwa, Iowa; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his siblings, John “Jay” (Dee) Bratton of Greensburg, Pa., and Josephine Calabrese, of Cleveland, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Lindsay Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Catherine McAuley Center, 1220 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at the UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital for all the love and support they showed Willard while he was in their care.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.