Bradford Bruce Woelfel

Brad’s health had been declining but then failed, ending on Thanksgiving morning. So it comes as a relief but as a bit of a shock. He was the first son born to Dr. Julian and Marcile Woelfel, he traveled with them during Julian’s army service in Texas and then later to Washington DC. He returned with them to Columbus became an Eagle Sout and graduated in the final class from OSU’s University School in 1967. He then went to Oberlin college graduating in 1971. He returned to OSU and received his masters at OSU in 1973. Later he received his juris doctorate from Capital University in 1983. He married Margo Wagner on March 28th 1987, they remained married until his death. Brad’s life changed when he was diagnosed with, what was then known as Manic Depression in 1975. This incurable mental illness wrecked his first marriage and first profession as a school teacher. It would challenge him and nearly wrecked his life off and on for the rest of his life, yet despite this he was able to restart his life repeatedly and meaningfully. He did not do this alone, of course, but with the help of his wife Margo and his parents, especially his mother, Marcile being a constant force for good. As anyone who has suffered with mental issues personally or been a family member of someone who has will know, Brad also had help from true friends as well as some people who failed him or tried to exploit it to their own benefit. Brad was twice in the National Guard, worked as an auto mechanic, substitute teacher, and then longest as a lawyer. He acted as a mediator and as a public defender. Memorable clients being a blind man who legally changed his name to Mr. Magoo, and eventually, while working primarily in juvenile law, where in one case, helped get early release for a murderer with extended parole supervision. That man has gone on to lead a worthy life. Despite these starts and stops in his life, there were constants. Brad was, from early on, an avid swimmer and competed and won awards for swimming throughout most of his life. For ten years he was part of the Master’s Swimmers, a national competitive group. He remained interested in and participated in other sports and outdoor activities as well, but was an equally avid reader on a variety of subjects. He usually had either cats or dogs as pets. He studied the Bible constantly and was an active part of various churches, going to Mexico with one church to help build homes for the poor. The final decade saw Brad under long term care at a facility in Dublin near both his wife and parents. He eventually ended up with the same loss of speech condition that was widely reported as being what ails actor Bruce Willis. Though Brad’s life was, no doubt, shortened by his mental conditions it was not always a sad one, and is a life that made a positive difference, more often than it would have in other hands. He is survived by his wife Margo, his two brothers, Jack Wolf and Jay, and his wife Kristy Woelfel and various cousins and their families. A memorial service for Brad will be held at a later time. Donations can be made in Brad’s name to Northwest United Methodist Church.

Bradford Bruce Woelfel

September 29, 1949 - November 27, 2025