Irvin Radtke

Irvin Radtke, 88, departed this world to go to his heavenly home on Wed. Dec. 16th at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. A Celebration of Life will take place Monday, December 21, 2015 at 11 AM at Baroda Bible Church, 9058 Third St., Baroda, with Pastor Brad Lambright officiating. Burial will follow at Ruggles Cemetery. Friends may visit on Sunday, December 20, 2015 from 4 PM until 6 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harbor House of Benton Harbor, Baroda Bible Church or to the memory garden Sue & Allan Ahonen will be building. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Irv was born March 21, 1927 to Julius & Laura (Schultz) Radtke.  He grew up in the Covert/Hartford/Watervliet areas along with his 3 brothers and one sister.  He served in WWII at the end of the war as he was just barely old enough to enlist.  He was stationed in Austria doing cleanup duty after the war and he always said he loved Austria even though he never went back.  He married Emily Franks from Bridgman in February 1949.  Emily preceded Irvin in death in June 1987.  He married Marjorie Kublick and they were married 33 years until her death in January 2009.  Irvin loved to restore old cars.  His first was a 1932 Dove Gray Ford which won many car show awards.  He also had a 1928 Ford pickup which won awards, several other model “A”s and a model “T”. He was a member of the Southwest Michigan Car Club.  He also enjoyed working around his mini-farm in Baroda on his 1952 John Deere tractor raising fruits & vegetables.  He worked at Whirlpool Corporation for 36 years before retiring from Plant 7.  He helped Marjorie raise the 2 youngest of her 3 sons and enjoyed the boys since he had 3 girls that he raised.  He was always a hard worker, splitting wood for the wood-burning stove, building a new pole barn, planting a different crop or restoring another car.  His last few years were a battle with Alzheimer’s which he finally succumb to.  He had a long and happy life and enjoyed vacationing in Florida whenever possible. He was a long-time member of the Baroda Bible church where he attended up until a few weeks before his death. He is survived by daughters, Sharon Radtke (Steve Hays) of Port Charlotte, FL, Sandra (Ray) Berwer of Port Charlotte, FL, Sue (Allan) Ahonen of Port Charlotte, FL & Stevensville, MI; step-sons, Rodney (Robin) Kublick of Louisville, KY, and Roger Kublick of Spring Hill, FL; his brother, Ed Radtke of St. Joseph; 10 grandchildren/step grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren/step great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother and father; his first wife Emily Franks Radtke; second wife Marjorie Kublick Radtke; brothers, Leonard Radtke, Bill Radtke and Oscar Radtke; sister, Helen Radtke; and step-son Richard Kublick.