Bradley J. Kidd

Bradley James Kidd passed away suddenly of natural causes Wednesday night, June 14th at his home in Jackson. While we will miss him here on earth, we rejoice that he is with his Father and Savior in heaven, who walked with and carried him through life's challenges. Brad was born on Dec 29, 1953 to Robert and Joan (nee Loots) Kidd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Robert and Joan separated when Brad and his sister Cindy were young, and Robert died in 1967 when Brad was only 13. In 1968, Joan remarried Richard Gruenewald and they moved to the Gruenewald family farm in Mequon. It was on the farm in Mequon where Brad, Cindy, and their step-brother Curt lived and eventually completed their schooling at Homestead High School. At Homestead, Brad participated on and managed the wrestling team, which earned him a varsity letter. He was also active in camera club, choir, and drama - artistic interests which would always be close to him. Brad was passionate about music and had a flair for the dramatic his whole life. Even after high school, Brad performed in theater at UW-Washington County where he attended for 2 years, and recently made his way back to Community Theater in West Bend. He was also very fond of poetry and would find any excuse to write a verse - after a bad deer hunting trip, he once had an original poem published in Wisconsin Sportsman magazine. Those who knew Brad well, knew that he had a lifelong desire to help others and improve his community. He was active in the Jaycees for many years in West Bend, and spent a great deal of time and energy fund raising for Cystic Fibrosis. He became an avid bicyclist in the late 80s and used cycling events as a means for raising thousands of dollars for the Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Brad also participated in an annual fund raiser for the American Heart Association in the years following his own heart surgery, and he was involved with Celebrate Recovery, an organization helping those struggling with addictions of all kinds. Brad spent most of his professional life in sales of one kind or another. He spent time in retail, direct home sales, and in auto sales for most of the last 2 decades, most recently at Russ Darrow with a position in the corporate office. As a salesman, he always worked with integrity and was more interested in the happiness and well-being of his clients than in any commission. This compassion for those who surrounded him certainly carried over to his family, for whom he cared very deeply... his wife, Sydra Knox-Kidd, son Jeremy Kidd (wife Carly, children Amelia, Eli, and Oliver), daughter Stephanie Spencer (husband Kirk, children Cameron and Alex), sister Cindy Selig, and brother Curt Gruenewald. He will also be deeply missed by Sydra's children and grandchildren, to whom he was a dad and grandpa in many ways... Aubrey Duncan (husband Corey McElroy, children Johannah and Alannah), Ashley Montour, (husband CJ, children Cullen and Ariella, and Adam Lemke (son Bentley). There will be a celebration of Brad's life at Cedar Springs Church, 3128 Slinger Road in Slinger, on Saturday, June 24th. All are welcome to come join in fellowship with family and remember Brad starting at 2 pm, with a memorial service at 3 pm, and a meal to follow. If you would like to honor Brad with a memorial donation to Cedar Springs Adventure Day Camp, please send checks PO Box 692, Slinger, WI 53086.