Eric H. Bradford

Eric “Turk” Bradford, born September 6, 1958, passed away at home on Friday, October 16, 2026, with his beloved wife, June Bradford, by his side.

Eric graduated from Gibson City High School in 1976 and attended the University of Illinois. He later joined Ironworkers Union Local 380, where he worked for 49 years before retiring in 2016.

An Illini at heart, Eric loved attending U of I football games and tailgating with friends and family. He treasured the friendships, laughter, and lasting memories made through these gatherings.

Eric enjoyed woodworking, caring for his property near Mahomet, and spending time outdoors. He took pride in his projects and especially loved sharing his woodworking skills with his grandchildren.

One of Eric’s greatest joys was watching his son, Sam, compete in basketball and track throughout high school and college. Sam went on to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, and Eric was immensely proud of his accomplishments.

Above all, Eric was a devoted family man. Though he had no biological children of his own, he loved his stepchildren as his own. He cherished time with his children and grandchildren, especially building projects with his grandsons and watching them grow.

Eric will be deeply missed by his wife, June Bradford, of Mahomet; his sister, Jackie Dupuis (Rodger), of Naperville, IL; his brother, John Bradford (Nancy), of Houston, TX; his sons, Sam Hohlfelder of Tampa Bay, FL and Derek Baker of Three Oaks, MI ; his daughter, Rosie Baker, of Monticello; his grandsons, Ayson, Roth, Markus, Gus, and Hunter; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John “Jack” Bradford and Malinda (Wiles) Bradford.

Eric leaves behind a legacy of hard work, devotion to family, and a love of the outdoors, Illini football, and lifelong friendships. He will be remembered with love by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Mahomet Chapel, 1102 Churchill Rd., Mahomet, IL, 61853, from 4pm-7pm. Private Graveside Services will be held on Saturday Oct. 31 at 11am, with a celebration of life being held at “The Property” at 12:30pm where all are welcome to share stories and memories of Eric.

Please join Eric’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.