Bradley Holmgren

Brad Holmgren, 72, died September 23, 2024, at his home in Portland, OR. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, attended K-12 public schools in Richfield, MN, and graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.

Brad married Robin Amundson in 1974. They had little money, but lots of love and family to see them through the lean years. They worked hard and lived frugally by being caretakers of 72 apartment units. Finishing their bachelor's degrees with no debt meant they could buy their first small house soon after graduation. They did not know then on what path they were headed, but they would travel it for 50 years together. Brad and Robin were a team, striving to become better spouses to each other, parents to their two children, Joseph and Alyssa, and citizens of their community.

Brad was a happy Viking living in Minnesota for 38 years. Then the family started moving - first to Phoenix, then Atlanta, England, Knoxville, and Singapore, where Brad set up and ran nuclear pharmaceutical cyclotrons in addition to managing complicated construction, sales, and financials.

After 20 peripatetic years, Brad and Robin's big adventure shifted dramatically. His intense globe-trotting, high-tech life became focused on family, friends, and neighbors. This new dynamic suited everyone, including Brad, as others came to know how generous he was with his time and talents. As homeowner association chair, he worked with budgets, reserve funds, and maintenance issues. As a new biking and spinning fanatic, he set up rides and fixed everyone's flat tires and broken chains. As the neighborhood handyman, he was most people's first call for consult. Above all, the role Brad cherished most was "Grandpa". He found his true joy making mountains of popcorn, playing school (where he was always a six-year-old troublemaker named "Little Brad"), and building contraptions out of Legos and planks.

Throughout his life, from being first in State in track's 880 relay to being Managing Director of an international nuclear pharmaceutical company, Brad strove to give his best. He was talented, intelligent, and even brilliant in some things, but that was not his essence. What set him apart was his devotion to others, almost like breathing, by helping, caring, and loving; never expecting or wanting praise, kind to all, regardless of their age, size, or status. He lived for goodness, and although not outwardly religious, he was dedicated to making the lives of people he loved, and those he didn't even know, better. He was love in action; a true Scandinavian Mensch.

Brad is survived and still loved by his wife of 50 years, Robin Holmgren; son, Joseph Holmgren (Kristen); daughter, Alyssa Craigie (Matthew); 3 grandchildren; sisters, Cory Bedeaux and Connie Meyer; and many much-loved sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton and Doris Holmgren, his parents-in-law, Carrol and Dorothy Amundson, and sister-in-law, Wendy Amundson.

Donations may be made in Brad's name to Developments in Literacy, www.dil.org or the Fistula Foundation, fistulafoundation.org, or to a charity of your choice.