Gerald “Bruce” Radke
Jul 29, 1941 - Feb 12, 2023
Gerald “Bruce” Radke, 81, Oconto Falls, died Sunday, February 12, 2023 at Bellin Hospital following a short illness. The youngest of 17 children was born July 29, 1941 in Oconto Falls to William and Wanda (Jaeger) Radke. Bruce, as he was commonly known, attended Elm Lawn grade school and graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1959. While in high school, he participated in most sports. Following graduation, he was employed by O’Neil Lumber in Oconto and Coopman Oil in Oconto Falls. In 1965, he was drafted into the US Army and served during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to his job in Oconto Falls.
On June 8, 1974 he married Anne Jensen at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Green Bay for two years before moving permanently to Oconto Falls. In 1975, Bruce started a 30 year career as a lineman with the Oconto Falls Water & Light Commission. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls. Over the years, Bruce enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing softball with his family and friends and followed the Packers, Brewers and Badgers.
Survivors are his wife Anne Radke, Oconto Falls; two children, Nikki Radke, MD; Gerald “Mark” (Julie) Radke, DePere; three grandchildren, Tiernan Malone, Avery and Gerald “Michael” Radke; seven siblings, Martha Schroeder, Helen Wiese, Rollyn (Ruth) Radke, Roger Radke, Reuben (Lorraine) Radke, Donald (Jeanne) Radke and Patricia Magnin; one sister-in-law, Carol Radke; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Herbert (Evelyn), Arthur (Mary), Kenneth (Lois), Fred (Delores) and Alfred Radke and four sisters, Evelyn Stueck, Marcella Pflanger, Florence (Larry) Froehtke and Irene (Edward) Baker and three brothers-in-law, Thomas Magnin, Robert Schroeder and Joe Wiese.
Visitation will be held after 3:00 PM Friday, February 24, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls until the time of service. Funeral services will be held 6:00 PM Friday at the church with Pastor Fred Mai officiating. Private family burial will take place in St. John’s Riverside Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Oconto Falls at a later date.
The Radke family would like to thank the doctors and nurses on Bellin Hopital’s 4th floor, especially Dr. Compress, Ellie, Andrew and Silas.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to Unity Hospice, 2366 Oak Ridge Circle, DePere, WI 54115 or visit: https://unityhospice.org/donate.