Vivian Darlene Radke

VIVIAN DARLENE RADKE

Vivian Darlene Radke, age 93, of Cherokee, IA, passed away Saturday, July 06, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, IA. Pastor Jonathan Riggert will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee, IA. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Vivian Darlene Radke, the daughter of Fred and Cecelia (Mackowski) Grauer, was born March 16, 1931, in Cherokee County, Iowa. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus, IA. She was confirmed on September 2, 1945, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, IA. Her favorite verse was Romans 5:11, “Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Darlene graduated from Wilson High School, Cherokee, IA in May of 1949. Before graduation, she worked as a clerk at Baumann’s Bakery and then worked as a telephone operator for NW Bell Telephone Co and lived in the Hanover area.

On February 17, 1957, Darlene married the love of her life, Donald Radke at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cherokee, IA. They settled on the family farm by Hanover, IA. She was a “farm wife” where she enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking and raising her chickens. 

Darlene and Don enjoyed singing in their church choir. She had many fond memories of the Radke family singing beautiful praises to their almighty God. As the years passed, she and Don retired to live in Cherokee, IA. Health problems took over their lives, so they went into Accura Healthcare in July 2017. After Don’s passing, Darlene continued to make her home there. 

Darlene passed away peacefully on July 6, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Cecelia Grauer, husband, Donald, sister Evelyn Stoner and brother-in-law Charles, brother Sherald Grauer and sister-in-law Carole; brother Dale Grauer and sister-in-law Wilma; brother Robert Grauer; sisters and brothers-in-laws on Radke and Grauer side.

Darlene will be lovingly remembered by her sisters, Lila Saxby, Shirley Larson, Mary Ann (William) Rasmus, Marjorie Veale, several nieces, nephews and friends.