James "Jim" Dean Bratton

MOUNT HOREB - James "Jim" Dean Bratton died on Thursday, September 4, 2025, unexpectedly from a sudden-massive heart attack. He passed away quickly and peacefully, as he wished for, underneath the remains of the love of his life and their four-legged children.

Jim was born on June 12, 1958, in Kansas City, Mo., the third of five children born to Vern and Jackie Bratton. The Bratton’s moved to the Middleton area in 1965 before settling into their home in the country in 1971. Upon moving to the country Jim discovered a deep love for the outdoors and spent as much time in the woods as he could. He was known for being an excellent shot and his surgeon like field-dressing skills.

In high school, Jim was a tenacious and intimidating competitor, he was a stand-out wrestler and football player. His proudest moment as an athlete came when he fought his way to the state wrestling tournament in his senior year but was unable to compete, due to someone in the household giving him chicken pox. Jim graduated from Wisconsin Heights High School in 1976.

In his teenage years, Jim developed a love and passion for cars. Shiny paint, horsepower and chrome drove him. Swapping parts and constantly working to improve performance. At one point his dad told him, “You should just put pins on that f-ing transmission.” But the hard work never bothered him.

At some point later in the ‘70s he set his goal even higher. Not on hunting or cars but on a young woman he had eyes for from Cross Plains. He was bound and determined to win her over, and somehow, he did it. In 1980 he married the love of his life, Kate Walsh-Bratton. Together they moved to Madison to start a family and in 1982 they welcomed their first son, Beau James Bratton, and in 1984 they welcomed their second son, Cody Thomas Bratton.

Jim’s love for cars was infectious. He raised his family in the shop his father Vern started in 1967, spending countless late winter nights and weekends restoring his cherished 1960’s era Mopars. They spent their summers cleaning, showing and drag racing their 1962 Polara 500. In 1997 Jim and Kate purchased Vern’s Body Shop from his parents. Together, his life-long dream became a reality. He had married his soul mate, owned his own shop and led a family that hunted and worked on cars. We didn’t get to see much of him in those days, he would leave before we were awake and come home after we were in bed. He was adamant that on Sundays after ‘just a few hours’ at the shop, we would have a home-cooked family dinner, often made by him because he loved to cook, and was a master of the grill.

Jim’s automotive crown jewel came at the 2001 Mopar Nationals, when Kate’s 1963 Dodge Dart won an exclusive “Best of Show” award, and Beau won his 2nd consecutive Neon Shootout title. He beamed about that weekend for years, and who couldn’t.

Under Jim, Vern’s Body Shop became a place that people would just stop by, not because they needed something fixed, but just to BS with Jim. Anyone that knew him knows that he loved to talk, and he never forgot a face. He made numerous lifelong friends and many of them became part of his family. As his kids grew up, he seemed to get younger. Many nights were spent having cocktails and solving the world’s problems. Often with the happy hour crew watching Cody work and offer up their advice. He was always welcoming to everyone, and if you stopped by any time close to 5:00, there was a 100% chance he would ask, “Ya gonna have one?”

Jim never sought credit for his generosity, or what he did for others. He was a hard-working man who loved his family and friends fiercely and unconditionally. He was a rock for our family and his dedication and devotion shined throughout Kate’s battles with cancer. After losing Kate, he devoted his time to his grandchildren. Their Grandpa was always eager to pickup from school or shuttle to an activity or attend a sporting event. Often, he would take them for ice cream (before dinner) to sugar them up before returning them to their parents.

Jim is survived by his sons, Beau (Lindsey) Bratton and Cody (Jen) Bratton; his four grandchildren, Keylah, Mason, Kennedy and Luella "Ella"; his brothers and sisters, John (Lucy) Bratton, Janet (Dan) Hungerford, Bob (Renee) Bratton and Julie (Ryan) Loger; the Walsh family; his many nieces and nephews; his Body Shop happy hour crew; the Air BnB family; and Jim and Kate’s precious dog, Turbo.

A sincere and gracious thanks goes out to our dear family friend, Dan Watson.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Kate Walsh-Bratton; and his parents, Vern and Jackie Bratton.

Jim’s celebration of life will be held at CROSS PLAINS AMERICAN LEGION, 2217 American Legion Drive, Cross Plains, from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Jim had a several-month long stay at a Shriner’s Hospital in Minnesota when he was a toddler, where they were able to surgically correct his bowed legs. The team of surgeons assured Vern and Jackie that he would never be able to play sports. Per Jim’s determination and dedication, he proved them wrong and is eternally grateful for the service they provided to him.

Jim’s absence leaves a void in our hearts, but his legacy will live on in the people that loved him, he was a straight-forward man that would tell anyone exactly how he saw it, because - “It is what it is” - Buckwheat

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Cross Plains

Funeral & Cremation Care

2421 Church St.

(608) 798-3141