Obituary of Peter D. Radtke

Peter Donald Radtke, age 82, town of Sigel, passed away Thursday October 29, 2015 in Wisconsin Rapids. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the town of Sigel. Rev. Robert Nelson will officiate. Burial will be at the Holy Rosary Catholic Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 3, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 9:30 A.M. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. Pete was born on July 10, 1933 in Wisconsin Rapids to Phil and Natalie (Brostowitz) Radtke. He married Joyce Bertram on September 25, 1954 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the town of Sigel. They were blessed with 59 years of marriage and four sons; Joyce passed away in 2013. Pete worked for Rapids Bottling and Consolidated Papers Inc. before accepting employment with Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company. Pete worked in the finishing room in the Nekoosa mill and retired after 40 years of service. While at Nekoosa, Pete served as president of Local 59 Papermakers Union. Pete served his country in the Army National Guard for many years in the 32nd Infantry Red Arrow Division. Pete was a faithful parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and enjoyed bartending for events at the Polish Hall. He was a member of the Rudolph American Legion Post 485. Pete enjoyed a good beer and cigar and trips to the casino. He was an avid baseball fan. He rarely missed a Rapids Twins game and coached Little League baseball in Rudolph for many years. He was a Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Colts fan. Pete is survived by his sons: Dennis (Kathy) Radtke, Wisconsin Rapids, Steve Radtke (Lisa), Rudolph, Phil Radtke, Anchorage, Alaska and Andy (Celia) Radtke of Wisconsin Rapids; grandchildren: Todd (Amy) Radtke, Wisconsin Rapids; Tina Radtke (Jacob Westra), Auburndale; Cole Radtke, Wisconsin Rapids; Anna, Grace and Kristin Radtke, Wisconsin Rapids; Josh, James and Leah; great-grandchildren: Dylon and Gage Morrow and Alexis and McKenna Radtke; sister, Janet (Butch) Mueller, Vesper; brother, Ronnie Radtke, Wisconsin Rapids; sisters-in-law: Delma Bertram, Laura Neinfeldt, Lucille "Tootie" Jackan, and Elaine Bushmaker, all of Wisconsin Rapids and Mary Ann (George) Armagost, Vesper. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Natalie Radtke, wife Joyce, Joyce's parents, Emil and Marion Bertram, and brothers-in-law: Art Neinfeldt, Harold "Sonny" Bertram, George Jackan and Gene Bushmaker, and sister-in-law, Carol Radtke. Special thanks to Ronnie Jagodzinski, Erv Tomczyk, Jim Jackan (for picking up the Sunday newspaper), Pete's many caregivers, and especially to Chatty for the extra special loving care and always being there for Pete. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.