Preston, Brad E. of Apple Valley, MN passed away unexpectedly on January 4, 2019 at the age of 63.

Brad was an incredibly loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He was born in Brainerd, MN on March 19, 1955 to his parents Winnie and Knute, and moved to the Twin Cities with his family as a teenager. On April 24, 1976, Brad married the love of his life, Anita, a union that lasted 42 wonderful years. Together they raised two sons, Jordan and Adam.

Brad was extremely proud of his career in software development. Working for Lawson Software (acquired by Infor in 2011) for 38 years, he was the longest serving employee in company history, and was respected and admired by so many of his peers.

Brad had a passion for playing the piano, creating music of his own, and collaborating with other musicians. During the spring and summer, he could be found spending many afternoons on the golf course. The traditions that his family established, including yearly trips and celebrations, were also very near and dear to him. He was known for his sense of humor, his intelligence, his selflessness, and his compassion and respect for others.

Brad will be missed dearly by his many friends and family. He was preceded in death by his father, Knute; mother, Winnie; brother, Ty; and nephew, Greg Corcoran. He is survived by his beloved wife, Anita; sons, Jordan and Adam; sister, Dianne (Tom) Corcoran; in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

A celebration of Brad's life will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association or Alzheimer's Association are preferred. Brad's brother, Ty, suffered from Alzheimer's, so he was very passionate about finding a cure.

Published on January 11, 2019