Bradley
Gale
Goodheart
Bradley Gale Goodheart, 61, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Heritage of Overland Park. Brad was born on March 10, 1961, at Menorah Hospital, Kansas City, MO to Gale and Arletta (Major) Goodheart. His wife and father proceeded him in death.
Brad is survived by his two children, Jenna Ann Hensley (Dane), Jacob Ray Goodheart; Mother, Arletta (Major) Goodheart; and sister, Loras Goodheart-Heck (Bill). Brad graduated from Wasson High School, Colorado Springs, CO. in 1979, where he excelled in sports, with football being his favorite--however, it was his football coach who encouraged him to play soccer. In 1976, he was chosen to play on the USA Bicentennial Team of Colorado Springs that was travelling to Europe to play soccer during the summer. This was such an honor and nice experience for him.
After graduation in 1979, the family moved back to the Kansas City area, however, Brad had a job and loved Colorado so he chose to “probably” join us later. He did decide to leave and stopped in Russell, KS where his grandparents lived and his grandfather (best fishing buddy ever) needed summer-help at the CO-OP Station where he was manager, so he was there for the summer and that is where he met Kathy Kuehn, the love of his life.
Brad migrated to the Manhattan/Junction City area where he accepted a job at the Fort Riley Army Base where there was a large building project under contract. When that was completed, he moved to the Kansas City area where he found employment with Strickland Construction Company that specialized in building Butler Buildings. Brad was employed at Strickland’s for 20 plus years and had various titles and responsibilities over the years. He loved going to Guatemala and building mostly churches and schools in the small villages. Roger Strickland did a lot for the Guatemalan people and even approved Jenna to travel with her father and attend the summer school and church while she was there which was a neat experience for her. Brad also was involved in organizing a group of Paola High School children to go to Guatemala for a week to learn of their culture, etc. He was the bus driver so that was an experience for him too!!
Brad and Kathy were married on September 30, 1987, in Russell, KS, and they moved to the Kansas City area where they were both employed. To this union they were blessed with two children, Jenna and Jacob. Brad and Kathy both loved the country and had a skiing-fishing boat so they purchased their home at Hillsdale Lake, Paola, Kansas where they enjoyed the water sports and Brad was the fisherman of the family. The family were members of Colonial Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS. for many years and were involved in several activities and children were involved with Sunday School. It was a difficult time for the family when Kathy passed in 2008 and the children were very young.
Brad’s favorite hobby was restoring old trucks from junk yards or old farm yards. The last truck he restored was actually rebuilt with different parts from Fords, Chevrolets etc., and doors, windows and mirrors were all computerized by just touching a button. His last truck made the cover of the National Truck Magazine and that was quite rewarding, but he always said the fun was getting it altogether, and it turned out to be a pretty cool truck!!
After Brad was hurt on the job and had back surgery, over several years, his health started failing and was unable to live by himself so he was living at the Heritage of Overland Park for almost five years. On February 11, 2023, he fell and broke his hip and passed peacefully on February 28. Arletta, his mother and Loras, his sister, were with him as he went thru the journey. As we saw him take his last breath, and, of course we were sad, but after several minutes, saw a tear coming from his right eye and then his left arm raised up from the bedside and his fingers started moving toward us and him. We both felt it was a sign from God letting us know that Brad had seen Jesus and he was okay in Heaven. When the hospice lady that helps you with the journey came back in the room, she told us she had seen the tear quite a few times, but only once did she see the arm rise and we should share our blessing and know how important it is to be with loved ones, if possible, when they start their journey as we would never know about the blessing God sent us.
Celebration of Life at Hillsdale Presbyterian Church on Monday, May 22nd, 2:00 pm, with inurnment to follow at Hillsdale Cemetery, Hillsdale, KS. Dessert and soft drinks to follow at Hillsdale Presbyterian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heritage of Overland Park or Ascend Hospice. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com