Bradley Devon Eby, age 56, Nappanee, died surrounded by his family after a nine year battle with cancer (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), at 6:23 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, at James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State Medical Center in Columbus. He was born Sept. 11, 1959, in Elkhart to Devon and Elaine (Neff) Eby. On June 11, 1994, he married Connie Kirkdorffer.
Brad was a 1978 graduate of NorthWood High School where he was an outstanding Scholar Athlete, participating in football, basketball, and baseball . He received his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice at Indiana University. He later attended Indiana University South Bend and received his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education.
Mr. Eby was a Tulsa, Okla. city policeman for eight years prior to moving back to Nappanee. In 1990 he started teaching at NorthWood Middle School, where he was the seventh grade girls basketball coach. Brad also helped organize the fifth and sixth grade girls basketball programs and also was involved in the Upwards Basketball program, serving as an official. He owned Hoosier Monument Specialites and poured many foundations for NorthWood Monuments and other area monument companies.
Mr. Eby attended Nappanee Missionary Church. For many years, he volunteered and taught Sunday School at Wakarusa Missionary Church and currently at Nappanee Missionary Church. He was involved in Bible study groups that often met in his home. He was a leader of the Silent Witness Prayer Group at NorthWood Middle School which meets weekly with over 200 students attending. Brad helped organize and planned special Veteran’s programs including “See you at the Pole” at NorthWood Middle School. In 2014, he was named WaNee Educator of the year by the Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered and coached with the Wakarusa Little League program.
Brad is survived by his wife: Connie Eby; daughters: Terin and family, Indianapolis; Eric and family, Nashville; son: Kirk, at home, and currently a student at Ball State University; four grandchildren: Ivy Bradley; Lauchlin David; Paisley Rose; Clay Edward; parents: Devon and Elaine Eby, Nappanee; sisters: Tereasa (Jim) Hess, Goshen; Tammy Snyder, Fishers; brother: Brian Eby, Indianapolis; mother and father-in-law: Larry and Mary Kirkdorffer, Milford; and sister-in-laws: Chris (Steve) Dahlgren, Riverside, Calif.; and Cheryl Miller, Milford.
A celebration of Brad’s life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Nappanee Missionary Church. Pastors Jon Andrews and Terry Bley will officiate. Following cremation, inurnment will take place at a later date at South Union Cemetery.
Family and friends are encouraged to make memorial contributions to the James Cancer Center for research for CLL at the Ohio State University Medical Center.
Arrangements are entrusted to Thompson-Lengacher and Yoder Funeral Home.