Paul Bradley “Brad” Brechtelsbauer passed away on April 15, 2026, surrounded by his family – he was 61 years old.
A Funeral Service will be hosted at the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, April 19, at 2pm, and his visitation will take place at Wilkerson Funeral Home on Saturday, April 18, from 5pm to 7pm.
Brad was a physician in Greenville, NC, practicing as an ear-specialist for over twenty years at Eastern Carolina ENT. He relished the opportunity to care for his patients and was especially honored to provide the gift of hearing through cochlear implants – something that often moved him to tears.
An active member of the local music scene, Brad could often be found performing and jamming with friends across eastern North Carolina. He was a founding member of The Low Tide String Band, a trio that specializes in bluegrass, old time music, and Americana. He played many instruments, including the piano, bass, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, and he constantly sought out new tunes.
Brad was born in Waynesboro, VA, in 1964, and lived briefly in Richmond while his father pivoted from engineering to dentistry. When he was in middle school, his family moved to Pinehurst, NC, in large part drawn to the incredible golf offerings in southeastern NC. Growing up, he spent much of his time golfing with friends and family, tending to his family’s collection of magnolia trees, and building and tinkering various projects at his workbench.
After graduating from Pinecrest High School in 1982, Brad attended Davidson College, where he received a bachelor’s in economics in 1986. He then went on to attend medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was a lifelong UNC sports fan thereafter. Towards the end of medical school, he met his first wife, Tonita, and they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when he began his residency in 1991. They had two children: William, born in Michigan, and Laura, born in Greenville, NC.
Brad was larger than life, not just personally, but physically – his 6-foot, 9-inch frame couldn’t be missed when he entered a room. But his big, warm smile was immediately disarming, earning him the unofficial title of “gentle giant” among those close with him.
One of Brad’s greatest gifts was his passionate and joyful curiosity. He always sought out new experiences and skills, including flying, ham radio, photography, computer programming, and sailing. And any interests his kids dove into, he often hopped on board and learned too. In the final years of his life, he embraced country living in Farmville, NC, becoming an avid tractor operator, tree enthusiast, and welder – activities that he loved to do with his wife, Karen, who was always an eager project partner.
Tragically, Brad was diagnosed with cancer in late 2022, which took him much too early. He handled every aspect of his cancer journey with profound grace, and his resilience and sense of humor made it easy to forget he was even sick. Without a doubt, Brad was a source of joy until the very end.
He is preceded in death by his father, Paul Brechtelsbauer. He is survived by his wife, Karen Brechtelsbauer; his mother, Anne Brechtelsbauer; his children, William Brechtelsbauer and Laura Brechtelsbauer; and their mother, Tonita Branan. He also leaves behind his sister, Wendy Spears; and his stepchildren, Caleb Roberson and Linzy King; along with a host of extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care and comfort provided by Physicians East Oncology, ECU Oncology, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.