Bradley Robert Johnson

September 27, 1995 - September 1, 2025

Bradley Robert Johnson, of Chicago, IL, passed away peacefully Monday, September 1st, 2025, surrounded by love. Words aren’t enough to capture the life he lived, and our tributes to him will go on forever. Brad was born on September 27th, 1995, in Geneva, IL. He grew up in St. Charles, IL, attending schools at Wasco Elementary, Thompson Middle School, and St. Charles North High School. Brad made the Johnson family complete. Throughout his life he settled into the quintessential little brother role, and his parent’s “number one son”. Growing up, Brad was goofy, competitive, and thoughtful. His humor transcended into adult life and his comedic timing often brought his family the levity needed in hard moments. As a kid, he was always asking his sisters, “wanna play?”. They accommodated him with wrestling, catch, extreme razor scooter down steep driveways, neighborhood bike rides, and the ping-pong he craved. This was all contingent on him being a willing participant in their basement produced short films. Brad loved family vacations and it is likely thanks to his parents for enriching his childhood with trips out west that he developed a deep love for nature, science, and animals. Topping all vacations for Brad was Minocqua, he loved to fish with his Dad, Grandpa, uncles and cousins. He was a master of tubing, waterskiing, wake-boarding, sailing and standing on a lawn chair on a disc while juggling off the back of the boat. All useful skills for later courting the love of his life. Ping pong was a big passion for Brad and he would want the record to show he was once nationally ranked, and the details do not matter here besides being higher than Grant. He would never let anyone forget how he “won” the Tiny Tots track race when he was 5 years old. His competitive spirit led him to become a very skilled soccer player under Coach Bob’s eye and the support of his number one fan and driver, his mom. Brad made friends at each stage of life that lasted a lifetime. He had a unique way of making people laugh and feel at ease in large crowds. He was the “glue” of his many friend groups. When they got together it always brought out memories of playing tag on the playground, wiffleball, nighttime spike ball under the lights, Lord of the Rings marathons, Alice’s puppy chow ice cream, basement shinny, travel soccer memories, and a YOLO decision to play tennis senior year of high school. At St. Charles North, he met the love of his life and never knew another. “Kassi got her braces off and I said HELLO”. Brad and Kassi’s love story began sophomore year, and as Brad says “Kassi pulled him into the popular group”. They filled those years making memories of homecomings, proms, Mexican food date nights, and driving around in the famous blue Cobalt singing their shared favorites. Brad openly hated any dating advice given to him by his older sisters and Mom, he was a creative person who loved the challenge of dance proposals and date ideas. But the closest women in his life undoubtedly groomed him into the thoughtful boyfriend he was. Brad continued his education at the University of Illinois, and Kassi attended Ohio State University. But their love story continued long distance by planes, Greyhound buses, automobiles and a lot of cell phone minutes. While attending college, Brad gathered another irreplaceable group of lifetime friends. They attended football and basketball games, participated in Business Council events, late night “wallow” sessions led by Brad’s playlist, moved from dorms to apartments then houses together. Eventually it became the house with 10 guys, needing not much furniture but a long table and a lot of red solo cups. Brad graduated from U of I in 2018 with a B.S. in Biology. Upon graduation, before starting his position in the clinical trial operations rotational program at Abbvie Pharmaceutical, Brad traveled to Southeast Asia with some of those treasured college friends. After returning from that trip, life took an unexpected turn and Brad was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma brain tumor. The next year was a schedule of surgery, chemotherapy, and proton radiation, as Kassi and family stepped up to support. This started the medical journey that continued for the rest of Brad’s life. Brad never wanted to be thrown a pity party, and made sure the tumor was not going to guide his life. He unintentionally became an inspiration to others who were going through different cancer diagnoses. He was actively involved with the Lurie Cancer Center’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program and The American Brain Tumor Association. Stepping up to speak to a group, participate on a board, or write an article, Brad was making a difference in lives. His words on cancer still resonate with us all “don’t give it hope, because you are the one with all the hope. Don’t give it strength because you are the one with all the strength.” Brad was passionate about the AYA community; this club that no one, including him, wished to be a part of. Brad took that hope and strength right to Kassi after finishing treatments in 2019. In typical Brad fashion, after asking Kassi’s dad for blessings, he stopped at Rocket Fizz candy shop, bought Kassi a ring pop for every year they had been together, drove to Chicago and proposed. 2020 wedding plans were interrupted by COVID, but only to bring an unexpected, beautiful ceremony at the Japanese Gardens in Geneva, followed by a treasured backyard celebration with immediate family. Their celebration did not end there. They patiently waited to surround themselves with the family and friends they missed the first time, and had the big party in October 2021. The wedding party trolley dancing to Brad’s playlist will go down in history. Brad loved music. He learned to play piano and the drums at a young age and later, began to teach himself guitar while going through his first round of treatment. His taste in music was eclectic and his playlists were popular among friends and family. He found himself being asked to DJ at different events, acquiring the name of DJBJ at his first real gig, Steph’s wedding. In Brad’s words “I was a DJ once. It was easy.” He had a lifelong goal of learning a new instrument every decade. He loved listening to his familiar favorites, but spent more time discovering new music across every genre. Queuing up the perfect playlist for any setting was one of his greatest joys. As was blasting music and singing his heart out in the car with Kassi. Experiences and memories with those he loved are what Brad lived for. He valued and prioritized his marriage and relationships with family and friends – spending time traveling with Kassi, fostering dogs together, attending every family event he possibly could, and keeping deep friendships with many. He had a special relationship and friendship with his parents. He was endlessly proud of his sisters and was their biggest cheerleader. No one took the role of being a “Funcle” more seriously than Uncle Brad. From changing diapers to building a playset to dancing to Encanto, Funcle Brad did it all. He was so proud of them all and would tell anyone who would listen about his niece and the triplets. In 2022, Brad moved his career to Tempus, where he worked as a clinical trial manager. He had heard of the company early into his cancer diagnosis, when he sent his tumor for further genetic testing. He was excited by the opportunity to work for a company he truly believed was making a difference, and he often remarked that he was surrounded by many people much smarter than him. 2023 brought in new adventures as Brad and Kassi packed up and traveled to California, as Kassi began her travel nurse journey. Brad joked he was “Pikachu riding in Kassi’s backpack” on this life experience, but Kassi would have never left the state without Brad’s encouragement and spontaneity. Brad cherished this time as their opportunity to spend more quality time with each other, and dive into the many outdoor activities he loved. He loved science and nature, learning about it and surrounding himself in it. Surfing, hiking, fly fishing, camping, and skiing became more frequent hobbies. Brad vowed he would not make a single new friend in California, he had too many great ones already. He instead used this time further away from his closest people to spend a lot of time learning who he was; continuing to learn guitar, writing standup jokes, playing in pickup soccer leagues, and creative writing. Brad was funny – anyone who met him knew this. He was also competitive. And would probably want everyone to know he was good at sports. He memorized countless “elephant jokes” from a book handed down from his dad that were cheesy but made him laugh. Him and Kassi had a “joke of the day” competition; it is still up for debate who came out the funniest. Through every unfair thing life threw at him, Brad didn’t take anything too seriously and was always cracking jokes, and making those around him (and himself) laugh. He was kind and thoughtful and so many other words that seem too dull to describe who he truly was. Through 2024, as we supported and followed Brad in recurring medical challenges, he continued to have all the hope and strength. He shared that with all those around him. If hope and strength could have saved him, he would still be with us. But cancer sucks, and doesn’t play fair. Brad is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife, Kassi (Ams) Johnson; Parents, Candice and Bob Johnson; Sisters: Steph Johnson, Michelle (Johnson) Amendola, and Addy Ams; Brudders: Andy Amendola, Mike McElligott, and Austin Ams; In-laws: Paul and Dee Ams. Brad was the fun uncle to Gina, Logan, Emma, and Anthony; missed dearly by many aunts, uncles, 1st cousins, 2nd cousins, friends who were family, and his beloved rescue pup Calvin. Brad was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Walter and Jean Urbanik; paternal grandparents: Frank and Dolores Johnson; and Uncle Ken Johnson. If donations are desired the family invites contributions to American Brain Tumor Association or the Send It Foundation – which funds adventure trips for young adults with cancer. Donate to ABTA SENDtember 2025 A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 28th from 1-5pm at The Venue at Goebbert’s in Pingree Grove, Illinois. Service to begin promptly at 1:30 pm. 42W813 Reinking Rd Pingree Grove, IL 60140 https://www.goebbertevents.com/Guest BookShareEmailPrint