Dorothy E. Radtke

Dorothy E. Radtke, 90, Town of Texas, passed away peacefully with her youngest son, Robert by her side on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at Stone Crest in Wausau, under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

Dorothy was born on March 14, 1936, in Wausau, daughter of the late Martin and Emma (Weigandt) Kapellen. She was married October 16, 1954 to Theodore Radtke in the Town of Wausau at St. Peter Lutheran Church, he preceded her in death on July 17, 2019.

Dorothy and Theodore dairy farmed in the Town of Texas. Together, they raised eight children and as the family grew, Dorothy was an active leader in the Texas Ramblers 4-H. She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in the Town of Wausau. Among her favorite pastimes, she enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and making maple syrup. She also enjoyed walking her dogs through the woods. Dorothy cleaned private homes and offices for over 20 years and volunteered at Bethesda Thrift Store for more than 40 years. She was known as “the coat lady.” At the age of 50, she took up dog sledding and enjoyed cross-country skiing. Dorothy spent many late nights picking night crawlers for fishing and selling.

She loved her family deeply and took great care in raising her family, always providing fresh vegetables from her vast gardens, baking homemade bread each week and sewing much of her children’s clothing. She taught her family the value of hard work and taking care of not only themselves but also those around them. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Dorothy is survived by her eight children, Keith Radtke, Steve (Linda) Radtke, Scott (Lori) Radtke, Tom (Sharon) Radtke, Sue (Arlo) Prahl, Linda (Michael) Maher all of Wausau, Dennis (Maribeth) Radtke of Tampa, Florida and Robert (Joanie) Radtke of Merrill.

She also has 15 grandchildren, Megan (Ben) Punke, Travis (Melita) Radtke, Amanda (Jason) Grueneberg, Heather (Jonathan) Daniels, Erik (Holli) Radtke, Philip (Cheryl Martinson) Prahl, Tony (Missy) Prahl, Katie (Tyler) Van Schyndel, Danielle (Sean) Hughes, Derek (Holly) Moon, Michael (Kate) Maher, John (Elizabeth Eckert) Maher, Mary (Benjamin) Ertl, Alex Radtke and Sabrina (Kaleb) Brehm and 23 great grandchildren Forrest Punke, Samone Martel, Billie Jo, Benjamin, Briella Gruenenberg, Teagan and Lincoln Daniels, Beckett and Elijah Radtke, Adilynn, Julian, Elsie Van Schyndel, Oliver and Emma Prahl, Payton Hughes, Wesley and Robin Moon, Priela, Matthew, Michael and Catherine Maher, Theodore and Sophie Ertl.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Radtke, her siblings, Ralph (Dorothy) Kapellen, Martin (Inez) Kapellen, Marion (Donald) Heinz, Mable (Leonard) Zahrt, Arthur Kapellen, and her daughter-in-law Sandy (Keith) Radtke.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. Deacon Michael Maher and Alex Radtke will officiate. Entombment will be in the Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank the staff at Stone Crest Residence CBRF and St. Croix Hospice for the loving care they gave Dorothy. A special thank you to Dorothy’s caregiver, Ashley from St. Croix Hospice, who was so kind while Dorohty was living on the farm and was her support during her transition to her new home at Stone Crest.

Memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in the Town of Wausau, 238537 Del Rio Road, Wausau, WI 54403.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com