Eldon A. Radtke, age 96, of Green Lake, passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. He was born on July 2, 1924, on the family homestead in the township of Brooklyn, the son of Adolph and Emma (Brown) Radtke. He received his education while attending the Kelm School through 8th grade.
On October 8, 1955, Eldon was united in marriage to Marilyn Sell at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Markesan. They shared 63 years of marriage before Marilyn’s passing on June 12, 2019.
Eldon spent many years doing what he loved as the fourth generation farmer on their Century farm. Over the years, he also drove school bus. He was a member of Green Lake County Farm Bureau, American Milk Producers Incorporated, TRIAD of Green Lake County, and was a 4-H leader for over 20 years. Eldon was also a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Princeton and in earlier days, had sung in the church choir. He had many interests such as woodworking and carpentry, enjoyed music, dartball and in his earlier days, dancing and roller skating. But his real love was his John Deere two-cylinder tractors.
Eldon’s strong faith in the Lord was evident in how he lived his life. Family was very important to him as he cherished every moment in time. He was also known for his great sense of humour, jokes, speaking the Low German dialect, and for his incredible memory and fondness for sharing his recollections from days gone by.
Those Eldon leaves behind to cherish his memory include his four daughters, Sharon (Thomas) Esslinger of Green Lake, Carol (Michael) Hecker of Germantown, Kathleen (Brian) Ninneman of Green Lake, Kristin Radtke of Green Lake; four grandchildren, Brianne (David) Carpenter, Kurt (Melissa) Ninneman, James (fiancée, Amanda White) Esslinger, Emily Hecker; five great-grandchildren, Ella and Noah Ninneman, Piper and Wyatt Eldon Carpenter, Jackson Esslinger; many other relatives and friends, and his cat buddy, Felicity. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Emma Radtke, his mother having passed away in 1930, when Eldon was just 6 years old; his wife, Marilyn Radtke, sister, Florence Radtke; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ervin and Alice Sell; sister-in-law, Mildred Tasich.
A funeral service for Eldon A. Radtke will be held on Monday, April 19, 2021, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 226 South Clinton Street, in Princeton. Pastor John Stelter will officiate. Eldon will be laid to rest following the service at Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake. His casket will be transported atop a hay wagon pulled by his family’s restored 1941 John Deere B tractor. Please visit our website, www.wachholzandsons.com, to send a condolence or to share a memory of Eldon with his family.
The family wishes to extend a grateful thank you to Agnesian Hospice Hope for the wonderful and loving care given to Dad in his final days at home, and the Green Lake-Brooklyn First Responders and Berlin EMS for always being there for him.
A memorial is being established in Eldon’s name.
Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home
Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton
Serving the Family, 920-295-6631
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